It is worth noting that the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which handles the issue of naming various geographical features, allowed cartographers back in 2002 to name the disputed area of the World Ocean as they wish, or to use the term 'Sea of Japan/East Sea'. Few people know that until the beginning of the 20th century, the commonly used name was 'Korean Sea', and, according to historian-cartographers, it was actively used not only by Europeans and Americans, but also by the Japanese themselves. The term 'Sea of Japan' became firmly established among seafarers only after the Land of the Rising Sun defeated Russia in the war of 1904-1905, and it was finally adopted as the official name at an IHO meeting in 1929. Korea, at that time a Japanese colony, was unable to object. However, almost immediately after gaining independence in 1945, the question of the correctness of the sea's name was promptly raised by the Foreign Ministry of the then-united Korea. Although a final resolution to the dispute is still far off, the scales are increasingly tipping towards the need to restore historical justice.
A scandal of no lesser intensity erupted in 2002 after the release of the latest Atlas of the World published by the National Geographic Society (NGS) of the United States. A few days after it went on sale, NGS email inboxes were flooded – thousands of Iranians sent protests to the publishers because, alongside the traditional Persian Gulf, the atlas featured its alternative name – the Arabian Gulf. Official Tehran reacted even more harshly – the reference book was simply banned from sale in Iran. It turns out that, according to the Iranian leadership, attempts to rename the Gulf come from a 'pan-Arabist lobby entrenched in a number of states in the region'. However, as historians believe, it is all about the long-standing regional confrontation between Persians and Arabs.
However, one of the most famous interstate disputes over names is the dispute between Greece and Macedonia (official name – Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM). The essence of the dispute is that Macedonia is also the name of a region in Greece bordering FYROM, where, according to historical research, Alexander the Great was born. Therefore, the Greeks believe that the Macedonians cannot lay claim to the historical legacy of the great commander and must immediately change the name of their country. The opposing side, in turn, is convinced of its correctness and insists on the legitimacy of the name Macedonia. Even threats from Athens do not help – Greek diplomats say they will not allow FYROM to join the EU and NATO under its current name. Moreover, the conflict seriously hampers economic cooperation between the two countries – several years ago, Greece effectively imposed economic sanctions against FYROM. And in the last days of 2006, the dispute gained new momentum – the Macedonian government named the capital's airport in Skopje after Alexander the Great, which immediately sparked a storm of protests from the Greeks.