IHO, 바다명칭 대신 번호표기 확정...'일본해' 주장 근거 사라진다<br /><br />The International Hydrographic Organization, which governs the official naming of seas and oceans,... has officially decided to refer to them using numbers rather than specific names.<br />Eyes are on whether this could help resolve, at least at the IHO, the long-running dispute between Korea and Japan... over the name of the body of water that lies between them.<br />Yoon Jung-min reports.<br />As suggested by its Secretary-General, the International Hydrographic Organization has officially decided to use numbers rather than names when referring to seas on its charts.<br />Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday that the decision has been officially confirmed.<br />The IHO's chart of sea names, a document known as "S-23," will be replaced by a new chart called "S-130" that will conform to the new rule.<br />From now on, at the IHO, the body of water between South Korea and Japan will no longer be called the 'Sea of Japan,.<br />South and North Korea believe that using only the name 'Sea of Japan,' as had been done on S-23, is a reflection of Tokyo's past imperialism,... because the sea was officially named in the 1920s when the Korean Peninsula was colonized by Japan.<br />Since 1997, Seoul has been pushing to have 'East Sea' used as a co-equal name,... and the two Koreas and Japan started discussing the issue in 2017, but little progress was made.<br />The IHO has made it clear that S-23 no longer serves as a valid standard... but is available only as a publication.<br />Diplomatic sources in Seoul say the latest decision has eliminated the grounds on which Tokyo had claimed 'Sea of Japan' is the only valid name.<br />Seoul's foreign ministry said South Korea will actively participate in creating the new standard, S-100, which will include S-130 and other related standards.<br />It added it will continue efforts to ensure that the name 'East Sea' is used widely on the international stage.<br />"We will do our utmost so that 'East Sea' can also be used widely online. Digital diplomacy has been especially active amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and we will be linking our efforts to digital diplomacy."<br />Also during the meeting, South Korea suggested establishing an IHO e-learning center, and the idea was agreed by consensus.<br />The platform aims to develop e-learning guidelines and run virtual learning programs for the IHO member countries.<br />Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.<br />
