Japan asks to review new Equal Earth world map. Kuril Islands shown as Russian territory

Japan has called for a review of a new world map approved by the UN, which shows the disputed Kuril Islands as Russian territory. However, Japan was among 164 UN member states that supported the resolution.

The Guardian writes about this.

Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara said the new Equal Earth map projection contained an image that contradicted the governmentʼs position, but he did not say when the government first noticed it.

On September 4, the UN General Assembly voted in favor of the Equal Earth map instead of the traditional Mercator projection. This map depicted occupied Crimea in a different color than the rest of Ukraine, which is why Ukraineʼs permanent mission to the UN did not support the resolution.

What is known about the Kuril Islands?

Today, the Kuril Islands administratively belong to the Sakhalin Oblast of the Russian Federation. However, Japan disputes this and considers four islands, including Iturup, to be its territory, which the USSR seized during World War II.

On March 21, 2022, Russia withdrew from long-running negotiations and froze joint economic projects related to the Kuril Islands. The reason was Japanʼs joining Western sanctions over Russiaʼs war against Ukraine. A few days later, Russia began military exercises on the islands.

On March 31 of the same year, Japan recognized the Kuril Islands as “ancient territory of Japan under illegal occupation”. Ukraine also recognized the Kuril Islands as occupied territory of Japan.

On August 13, Putin visited Iturup Island, part of the Kuril archipelago, for the first time during his presidency. Japan then expressed strong protest.

Until now, Russian leaders have visited the Kuril Islands five times. In 2010, Dmitry Medvedev, who was then the President of Russia, came there. In 2012, 2015 and 2019, he came to the islands as Prime Minister. And in 2021, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited the islands.

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