Japan protests UN map depiction of disputed Kuril Islands as Russian territory > 월드뉴스

Japan has requested a revision of a newly adopted UN world map, claiming it inaccurately depicts the disputed Kuril Islands as belonging to Russia. The UN General Assembly voted to adopt the map on Friday, which enlarges the African continent while reducing the sizes of North America and Europe, a decision that has drawn criticism from the United States. Japan, which was one of the 164 UN members supporting the resolution, has since raised concerns about the representation of the Kurils, referred to as the Northern Territories in Japan. Government spokesperson Minoru Kihara stated that the map, known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection, contradicts Japan's position regarding its territorial claims. Japan has lodged a protest through diplomatic channels, seeking a correction to prevent misconceptions about its territories. The Kuril Islands have been a point of contention since they were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945, leading to the expulsion of the Japanese population. Tensions escalated last month when Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to the islands, prompting Japan to summon Moscow's ambassador and declare the visit unacceptable. Russia has dismissed Japan's claims as politically inappropriate and legally unfounded. The UN has stated that the new map aims to provide a more accurate representation of continental landmasses compared to traditional Mercator projections.