Japan wants new UN world map changed over Kuril Islands dispute with Russia

Japan has asked for changes to a new world map adopted by the United Nations, arguing it could create the misconception that disputed islands belong to Russia.

The UN General Assembly voted Friday to adopt the Equal Earth projection, which enlarges Africa while shrinking Europe and North America compared with traditional Mercator maps.

Japan supported the resolution but later objected because the Russian-controlled Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories, are shown in the same colour as Russia.

Japanese government spokesperson Minoru Kihara said the map “contained a depiction contradicting the Japanese government’s position”, according to Agence France-Presse.

“We lodged a protest with the map site’s operator through our diplomatic channel to demand the correction of this depiction,” Kihara said.

He added that Japan “needs to prevent misconceptions of our territories and geographical names from spreading”.

The Soviet Union seized the disputed islands in 1945 and expelled their Japanese population.

The UN says the Equal Earth map provides “a more accurate representation” of continental landmasses.