Google deletes Korean address of two disputed islands from map

US Internet search giant Google Inc. has deleted the Korean address of a pair of South Korean-controlled islands claimed by Japan from its Google Map, a Japanese local government said today.

From an impartial standpoint, the company has shown the islets' Japanese name "Takeshima" in the Japanese version of the map while placing "Dokdo" in the Korean edition since Friday, after deleting the Korean address, according to Shimane Prefecture, which was briefed by Google.

The prefectural and central governments had demanded the company remove the Korean address from the map, which previously presented "Ulleung-gun 799-800" as the islands' address in a space outside the map when searched using keywords such as Takeshima or Dokdo.

Sho Yamasaki, a prefectural official in charge of the islands, welcomed the move, but added, "We want to continue to urge the company to show the Japanese address on the map."