New York Senate Approves 'East Sea' Name

The New York State Senate on Tuesday passed a bill requiring all public school textbooks to call the body of water between Korea and Japan "East Sea" as well as "Sea of Japan."

The Senate approved the bill proposed by Senator Tony Avella of the Independent Democratic Conference, a group of former Democratic Party members, by a vote of 59 in favor and 1 against.

It will come into effect in July 2016 if it is passed by the state Assembly by June this year, when the state's current legislative session ends, and signed by the state governor.

Prior to the vote, the New York Senate also expressed its condolences to the Korean people and government over the ferry disaster last month.

Meanwhile, a similar bill passed earlier in Virginia has been signed by the state governor and takes effect in July.

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