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If I remember correctly, **North** Korea is called "北朝鮮{きたちょうせん}" in Japan?
But, I think "朝鮮" might actually be written in Katakana?

Anyway, given that "朝鮮" was Japan's colonial name for (all of) Korea,
shouldn't it be named something other than "北朝鮮"? (Personally, I have no
opinion about this). Surely, that is why South Korea is now 韓国{かんこく} and not
"南朝鮮{みなみちょうせん}? I mean, no matter how strained (or non-existent) Japan's
diplomatic relationship with North Korea might be, don't the South Koreans
object to the name "北朝鮮" (because it conjures the history of colonial Japan)??

**primary reason I asked the question:**  
I've always thought that "朝鮮" has a negative connotation in Japanese daily
conversation, yet South Koreans (as far as I know) don't object to North Korea
being called "北朝鮮" even in NHK broadcasts. That is the only reason I asked the
question.

The answers I got are great. I understand now.
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words etymology
Doesn't Japan call North Korea "北朝鮮" ? why?
Well, I don't feel like talking about international relationships, but...

> given that "朝鮮" was Japan's colonial name for (all of) Korea

It is the assertion by South Korea, but it is groundless. It is true that the
word "朝鮮" was (or still is, I dunno) sometimes used in a derogatory way, but
the word itself originates back in the early days of the first millennium.

You can find the usage in Chinese documents of that era. For the record, the
Chinese called the region 朝鮮 because the people there brought few tribute.
That is, "朝" in this case stands for "朝貢" (= tribute) and "鮮" stands for
"few".

And you should be reminded that North Korea call themselves "朝鮮民主主義人民共和国". If
they regard "朝鮮" was Japan's colonial name, how can this happen?
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朝鮮 comes from the Joseon dynasty, which is the longest-lasting Korean dynasty,
whose rule lasted from the late 14th century all the way to the late 19th
century. The use of this name can be chronicled in Chinese records from as
early as 100 BC.

After the fall of the Joseon dynasty, the Koreans changed their country name
to 大韓帝国 "Daehan Jeguk," or the "Great Han Empire." The 韓 in this name is the
same as the 韓 in 韓国 and stems from the three ancient kingdoms of Korea,
Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje, circa around 0 AD. This 韓 is likely a native
Korean word, whose pronunciation was just reflected in Chinese writings of the
time with the character 韓, and should not be confused with the character 漢,
both of which are pronounced as カン in Japanese and "han" in Chinese (although
with differing tones).

After the Korean Empire came under Japanese rule in the early 20th century,
the name was reverted to 朝鮮. After World War II and the Korean war ended,
South Korea adopted the name 大韓民国, "Daehan Minguk," partially to distance
themselves from the Japanese imperial name of 朝鮮. For whatever reason, North
Korea decided to keep the name 朝鮮 in their official name: 朝鮮民主主義人民共和国.

Japan continues to use whichever name the individual sides prefer, thus
leaving North Korea as 朝鮮 and South Korea as 韓国, although North Korea raises a
stink about being called 北朝鮮 as it implies that their rule over the entire
peninsula isn't legitimate. Incidentally, the name for the landmass both
countries reside on is still called 朝鮮半島.

For what it's worth, the name "Korea" in English also comes from a Korean
dynasty, the Goryeo 高麗 dynasty which was the dynasty immediately preceding the
Joseon dynasty.

Source: Mainly taken from <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_Korea>
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Jo-Seon, or "Cho-Sun" means the "land of morning (jo') calm"(seon') for Korea.
Nippon or "Nihon" the "land of rising sun" for Japan. Joong-Guo, the "middle
kingdom" for China.
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