Latest news with #LeeJae-woong
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
China Issues No-Go Zone in Disputed Waters Claimed by US Ally
The Chinese government declared a "no-sail zone" in the disputed waters of the Yellow Sea, which lies between the East Asian power and South Korea, a treaty ally of the United States. Newsweek has emailed both the Chinese and South Korean foreign ministries for comment. The "no-sail zone" is located within the Yellow Sea's Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ), an area where the Chinese and the South Korean Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) overlap. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, each coastal state may establish an EEZ extending up to 200 nautical miles (230 miles) from its coastline, within which it holds sovereign rights for the exploration and exploitation of natural resources. China has installed three structures-including a steel rig-on the western side of the PMZ. Seoul is concerned that they may be part of China's efforts to expand its territorial presence, while Beijing has downplayed South Korea's worries, saying they are aquaculture facilities. A regional branch of the China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) in Lianyungang-a city in Jiangsu Province-prohibited ships from entering a designated area in the southern Yellow Sea from 8 a.m. on Thursday to 8 a.m. on May 27, local time, without providing a reason. Based on coordinates provided by the Lianyungang MSA, the "no-sail zone" is located on the mid-eastern side of the PMZ, within South Korea's EEZ. It lies well outside South Korea's territorial waters that extend up to 12 nautical miles (13.8 miles) from its coastline. While it remains unclear whether the zone was established for military activities, China has maintained a naval presence in the Yellow Sea, which South Korean media claimed is part of Beijing's attempt to "militarize" the waters by deploying warships near South Korea. Meanwhile, two zones designated for military exercises were established in the PMZ waters north of the previously declared "no-sail zone," which are active from Thursday through May 27. One of these zones overlaps with South Korea's EEZ, a Newsweek map shows. Last month, Chinese and South Korean officials discussed maritime affairs, during which they held a "comprehensive and in-depth exchange of views," according to Beijing. The South Korean side warned China not to violate its "legitimate and lawful maritime rights." The meeting in Seoul followed an incident in late February, when a South Korean vessel-operated by a private oceanographic research organization-encountered the China Coast Guard while approaching a Chinese installation in the PMZ, leading to a standoff at sea. Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, previously said, in comments provided by the ministry: "I would like to point out that what China set up in the provisional measures zone (PMZ) are the aquaculture facilities. And relevant activities of China are consistent with China's domestic law and international law." Lee Jae-woong, spokesperson for the South Korean Foreign Ministry, previously said: "We will determine specific actions through a comprehensive review of factors such as the Chinese side's future behavior and the economic feasibility of our options." China's foreign ministry said following a meeting between Chinese and South Korean officials in April: "The two sides also agreed to enhance mutual trust and strive to make the Yellow Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, while jointly promoting the continuous development of the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership." ROK stands for Republic of Korea, the official name of South Korea. It remains to be seen how China and South Korea will resolve their disputes over the man-made structures in the PMZ, as military tensions persist on the nearby Korean Peninsula. Related Articles China Research Ship 'Loitering' Near Undersea Cables: ReportChina Reacts to Trump's 'Golden Dome' Missile ShieldDonald Trump Gives Timeline, Price for 'Golden Dome for America'US Economic Outlook Darkens as Major Forecast Records Steep Drop 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Memri
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Memri
South Korean TV KBS: 'China Is Trying To Expand Its Influence In The West Sea And Create A Basis For Future Territorial Claims'
On March 18, 2025, South Korean pay television channel KBS reported that China had been caught once again installing large structures in the South Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) in the West Sea, also known as the Yellow Sea, where activities other than fishing are prohibited. The Korea-China PMZ is a maritime area established under a 2001 bilateral agreement to jointly manage overlapping exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the West Sea. (Source: KBS) Following is a transcript of KBS's report: [1] "Standoff" Between China And South Korea Anchor: "China has once again been caught installing large structures in the South Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone in the West Sea, where activities other than fishing are prohibited. As our [Republic of Korea (ROK; South Korea)] government began an investigation, the Chinese side obstructed it, leading to a standoff between the two sides, which has only recently come to light. "There are suspicions that the Chinese government is laying the groundwork to assert territorial claims in the future, and our government has strongly protested to the Chinese Embassy." (Source: KBS) (Source: KBS) "The South Korean government launched an investigation into the steel structure installed by China in the Korea-China Provisional Action Zone (PMZ) in the West Sea near Ieodo Island and confronted the Chinese coast guard." (Source: KBS; Onnuri, a marine research and science ship. (Source: Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Yonhap News) "China Illegally Installed Two Large Structures In This Area" Reporter: "Earlier this year, it was detected by our reconnaissance satellites that China had illegally installed a 50-meter-high steel structure in the 'South Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone.' On the 26th of last month [February 2025], the government sent the marine survey vessel Onnuri to inspect the structure, but as we approached, Chinese coast guard and civilians in three rubber boats came to block us, leading to a two-hour standoff with our coast guard. "The Chinese side claimed, 'It is an aquaculture facility, so go back,' while our side insisted it was a 'legitimate investigation.' "Immediately after the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned officials from the Chinese embassy in South Korea to convey our firm stance and protest. [Lee Jae-woong/Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: 'The government is actively responding at a whole-of-government level to ensure that our legitimate and lawful maritime rights in the West Sea are not affected.'] "The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that there are ongoing communications regarding maritime disputes between the two countries. [Mao Ning/Spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: 'I can say that there are overlapping points in the maritime rights claims of China and South Korea.'] "The South Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) is an area where the exclusive economic zones of both countries overlap, and all activities other than fishing are prohibited. "Last year, China also illegally installed two large structures in this area, prompting a backlash from our government, and now they have installed another structure. "There are suspicions that China is trying to expand its influence in the West Sea and create a basis for future 'territorial claims.'" [1] March 18, 2025.
South China Morning Post
18-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Yellow Sea stand-off over ‘steel structure' raises China-South Korea tensions: reports
Details have emerged about an apparent two-hour stand-off between South Korean and Chinese coastguard vessels last month, which began when South Korea attempted to investigate a steel structure in the Yellow Sea, media in Seoul reported on Tuesday. Advertisement According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, citing South Korean diplomatic sources, the confrontation played out on the afternoon of February 26 in the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ) near Socotra Rock , southwest of South Korea's Jeju Island The incident erupted when Chinese coastguard ships along with three smaller civilian boats blocked the South Korean research ship Onnuri, which had been dispatched to survey a structure built by the Chinese without Seoul's authorisation. In response, a South Korean coastguard vessel was dispatched to the scene leading to a stand-off that lasted for more than two hours, Yonhap reported. South Korea said its inspection was legitimate, while the Chinese side claimed that the structure was an aquafarm and asked the Korean vessel to leave, according to the report. Some of the Chinese civilians reportedly carried knives, but there was no physical struggle. Advertisement South Korea's foreign ministry said it was working with related government agencies to ensure the country's legitimate maritime rights and interests in the Yellow Sea. 'We have also delivered our firm position to China regarding the reported incident,' ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said on Tuesday.
Korea Herald
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
S. Korea strongly protests Japan's renewed sovereignty claim over Dokdo
Seoul strongly protested Japan's renewed territorial claim over Dokdo on Saturday, following an event held in Shimane Prefecture laying claim to South Korea's easternmost islets. Seoul's foreign ministry expressed strong regret and delivered its position to Taisuke Mibae, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, after calling in the diplomat to the ministry to protest the event, officials said. The government repeatedly urged Japan to "immediately abolish" the annual event. "The Japanese government must immediately cease its unjust claims over Dokdo, which is historically, geographically, and under international law, clearly South Korean territory, and face history with humility," the ministry said in a statement issued by spokesperson Lee Jae-woong. The so-called Takeshima Day event was held in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, where local authorities and officials reaffirmed Japan's claim over the islets. Since 2013, the Japanese government has sent a senior official to the annual event, and this year, Eriko Imai, a parliamentary vice minister, attended. Shimane Prefecture designated Feb. 22 as Takeshima Day in 2005, when it marked the 100th anniversary of Japan's unilateral incorporation of Dokdo into its administrative jurisdiction in 1905. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
1 of 2 N. Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine voices intent to go to S. Korea: report
One of the two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine has expressed his wish to go to South Korea, a news report said Wednesday, in what would be the first known case for a North Korean captive to voice an intent to defect to the South. A North Korean solider, identified only by his surname Ri, said in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo that he never knew he would engage in combat against Ukraine as he was told that he would be sent to Russia for training as an overseas student. "I have made up my mind 80 percent ... Above all, I will seek refuge and am thinking about going to the Republic of Korea. If I apply for asylum, would they take me?" Ri said, when asked about his plan for the future. Ri is one of the two wounded North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces last month during combat against Ukraine in Russia's Kursk region. It marked the first time that a North Korean solider captured by Ukraine has expressed an intent to defect to South Korea since North Korea sent around 11,000 troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. Ri, born in 1999 and served as a scout sniper in North Korea, said he belongs to the Reconnaissance General Bureau, the North's intelligence agency. "(Officials from the North's state security ministry) said pilots of the Ukrainian military's drones are all ROK soldiers," Ri said, adding that he engaged in combat with Ukraine while believing he was fighting against South Korean troops. Ri, who sustained serious wounds to his jaw and arm, said almost all his comrades from a military unit were killed due to Ukraine's drones and artillery attacks. He also said he could have tried to blow himself up if he had a grenade because being held prisoner in North Korea amounts to a betrayal. As a North Korean solider captured by Ukraine has expressed his wish to defect, what draws attention will be whether the South Korean government would kick off consultations with Ukraine over the issue. South Korea's Constitution stipulates that the entire Korean Peninsula is defined as its territory, effectively recognizing all residents on the peninsula as its nationals. "As North Korean soldiers are our nationals according to the Constitution, (the government) plans to hold discussions with Ukraine if they request defection to South Korea," foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong told a press briefing last month. The National Intelligence Service, Seoul's spy agency, also cast a similar stance during a parliamentary session in January that what intent North Korean prisoners have is very important. But it remains unknown whether the process to bring such North Korean captives to South Korea would be smooth, as the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War stipulates that POWs shall be released and repatriated without delay after the cessation of active hostilities. Some experts, however, argue that the North's case may be an exception to such a repatriation duty under reference documents of the International Committee of the Red Cross, given that Ri could face serious human rights violations if he is sent back to North Korea. (Yonhap)
