Japan has demanded a revision to a new UN-adopted world map, citing concerns that it incorrectly labels the disputed Kuril Islands as Russian territory.

The Japanese government has lodged a formal protest against a new world map adopted by the UN General Assembly, arguing that the depiction of the Kuril Islands contradicts Japan's territorial claims. Government spokesperson Minoru Kihara stated that Japan is seeking a correction to prevent misconceptions regarding its territories. The map, which utilizes the Equal Earth cartographic projection, was adopted by 164 UN members to provide a more accurate representation of continental landmasses.

Territorial Dispute and Diplomatic Tensions

The Kuril Islands, referred to in Japan as the Northern Territories, have been a point of contention since they were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945. Tensions recently escalated following a visit to the islands by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described as unacceptable and offensive to the Japanese people. Moscow has rejected Japan's claims, labeling them legally unfounded.

Broader Concerns Over UN Map Resolution

The adoption of the new map has faced criticism from other nations as well. Ukraine abstained from the UN vote, warning that the map's depiction of occupied Crimea in a color distinct from the rest of the country violates international law and the UN charter. The resolution to adopt the map, which alters the relative sizes of continents compared to traditional Mercator projections, was supported by 164 countries, with six nations abstaining.