The updated World Factbook published by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency still refers to the body of water separating the Korean Peninsula and the main Japanese islands as the Sea of Japan, local diplomatic observers said Wednesday.

They said the geographical name contested by Seoul was used in the reference book with information about the countries of the world. Koreans call the same body of water the East Sea.

The South Korean government has persistently insisted that the International Hydrographic Organization and other map makers use both the East Sea and Sea of Japan on maps. So far, this effort has not been able to drum up the kind of international support needed to push the IHO and some governments to make changes. (Yonhap News)