NIIGATA, Japan, Oct 11 Kyodo The ...

NIIGATA, Japan, Oct 11 Kyodo

The Niigata prefectural assembly decided Friday to importune parliament and the central command to fight to keep the name of the material substance of water on the northwestern side of the Japanese archipelago as the ''Sea of Japan.''

The assembly adopted an opinion report calling onward the Diet and the conduct to prevent the name from being eliminated from the ''Limits of Oceans and Seas'' guideline, being revised on the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).

southern Korea is seeking to change the name to the ''East Sea'' or to have maps use the one and the other names to identify the area, saying the now passing predominance of the use of the ''Sea of Japan'' originated during Japan's 1910-1945 colonial order of the Korean Peninsula.

The opinion report says the ''Sea of Japan'' is an established name as it has been used internationally since the completion of the 18th hundred and rejects South Korea's assertion, saying the ''East Sea'' is a subjective designation as the sea area lies to the east of the country

The dead body of water in question is environed by Japan to the southeast, Russia's Far East to the north, and the Korean Peninsula to the west. North Korea is also calling for the name to be changed to the East Sea.

In August, Japan was surprised to learn that the ''Sea of Japan'' designation was eliminated in a draft guideline of the IHO, which is responsible for harmonizing nautical charts and documents, and lodg a declare with the Monaco-based organization.

IHO member states have until the completion of November to respond to revision proposals. unless if no agreement is reached forward the matter by the deadline, the sea could be left nameless.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo stranges International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group