South Korea and the U.S. will use neutral terms at a bilateral meeting of foreign and defense ministers Wednesday on the sensitive issue of what to call the East Sea. Japan insists on the term “Sea of Japan” for the waters east of the Korean Peninsula.

A senior Foreign Ministry official in Seoul says the joint statement between Seoul and Washington will refer to the East Sea and Yellow Sea as the “east and west coasts of the Korean Peninsula” in mentioning joint military drills in those waters.

U.S. Defense Department spokesman Jeff Morrell drew objections from South Koreans for referring to the East Sea as the “Sea of Japan" July 14th when announcing plans for the naval drills.

Other joint statements expected from the so-called 2+2 talks will be based on a joint vision for the bilateral alliance agreed upon by both countries in June last year. The vision includes an evaluation of the alliance and future plans; joint military exercises and policies to step up deterrence against North Korea; and coordination of inter-Korean policies including the North Korean nuclear issue.

Another item will be plans for cooperation in resolving global and regional issues.