A South Korean newspaper says Seoul may change the name it uses for waters near the British-ruled Falkland Islands, adopting the simultaneous use of a Spanish-language name preferred by Argentina.

The move would be retaliation for London's refusal to use the name East Sea for the waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan. Like most countries, Britain calls it the Sea of Japan.

The JoongAng Ilbo quotes an unidentified government official as saying South Korea may begin calling the Falklands Sea the Malvinas Sea. Britain and Argentina fought a brief war in 1982 over the nearby Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas. They are located about 500 kilometers east of Argentina.

The official is quoted as saying South Korea is “positively reviewing” the simultaneous use of the two names for the sea because of what he describes as an escalating sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina.

South Korea is similarly urging the international community to use both names to refer to the waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan.

JoongAng Ilbo says the International Hydrographic Organization, the global authority on oceanic names, will hold a general meeting next year to discuss several disputed names, including the Sea of Japan.