The Japanese Consulate-General in New York says it does not support the use of both the “East Sea” and “Sea of Japan” terms to label waters off the eastern coast of Korea in U.S. public school textbooks.

In an interview with Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency Thursday, Choi Yoon-hee, the head of a Korean parents’ association in New York, said she came across a letter the Japanese Consulate-General in New York had sent to Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, Joel Klein.

In the letter, the Japanese agency said the request made by the Korean community that both the East Sea and Sea of Japan labels be used in U.S. textbooks neglects historical truth and would only trigger unnecessary confusion and international conflict.

Choi said the Japanese agency’s claims were absurd as the key point of the Korean community’s request is to correct historical distortions.

Choi said she plans to send a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Chancellor of DC Public Schools Michelle Rhee to promote the fairness of using the two terms.