The United States says it uses the term, “Sea of Japan,” to describe waters between South Korea and Japan as it is the internationally recognized terminology.

State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner told reporters on Monday that the U.S. uses names set by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, and the organization’s standard name for that body of water is the Sea of Japan.

The South Korean government has protested the U.S. for using the term and has requested via diplomatic channels that the U.S. use both “Sea of Japan” and “East Sea” to reflect South Korea and Japan’s position in a balanced manner.