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The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, bordered by Japan, Korea and Russia. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure.

Physical characteristics

East Sea is right people!

Economy

The areas in the north and the southeast are rich fishing grounds. The importance of the fishery in the sea is well illustrated by the dispute between South Korea and Japan over Liancourt Rocks. The sea is also important for its mineral deposits, particularly magnetite sands. There are also believed to be natural gas and petroleum fields. With the growth of East Asian economies, the Sea of Japan has become an increasingly important commercial waterway.

Biology

The last documented observation of the Japanese Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus japonicus) was a sighting of 50 or 60 individuals on Liancourt Rocks in 1951. These animals bred in flat, open, sandy beaches and were indigenous to the Northwest Pacific shores of Japan and the Korean Peninsula. Hunted to extinction by fishermen, there is some disagreement as to whether the Japanese Sea Lion were a distinct species or a subspecies of the California Sea Lion.

Naming dispute

Although Sea of Japan is the commonly used term to refer to the sea amongst most other countries, both North Korea and South Korea have advocated for a different name to be used. South Korea has argued that it should be called the "East Sea"; North Korea, the "East Sea of Korea". As a result of Korean objections to the name "Sea of Japan", some English-language publications refer to it as Sea of Japan (East Sea), incorporating a version of the Korean name. On August 27, 2007, the Ninth Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names elected to retain the title of the body of water as "Sea of Japan". F. J. Ormeling, chair of the session, stated, "I encourage the three countries concerned to find a solution acceptable to all of them, taking into account any relevant solutions, or else to agree to differ and to report the outcome of these discussions to the next conference."

See also

• Geography of Japan
• Geography of North Korea
• Geography of Russia
• Geography of South Korea

References

1. "Tides in Marginal, Semi-Enclosed and Coastal Seas - Part I: Sea Surface Height". ERC-Stennis at Mississippi State University. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
2. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Zalophus japonicus". IUCN. Retrieved 2007-02-28.
3. Kyodo News, "Despite Korean efforts, geographic conference backs Sea of Japan name", The Japan Times, 29 Aug 07,

External links

Media related to Sea of Japan at Wikimedia Commons The dictionary definition of Sea of Japan at Wiktionary

39°34′55″N 134°34′11″E / 39.58194°N 134.56972°E / 39.58194; 134.56972

• Sea of Japan
• Disputed waters