South Korea And China Set Up A Second Hotline On North Korea

Photo by Shannon Moore, used under a Creative Commons license.

Top Diplomats Of S. Korea, China To Set Up Hotline Amid N. Korea Tensions -- Yonhap News

BEIJING, April 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Foreign Minister Yoon Byung-se said Wednesday he and his Chinese counterpart have agreed to open a 24-hour hotline for prompt policy consultations on North Korea.

"With regard to North Korea's several acts of raising tensions, the two sides agreed to closely work together to convince the North not to carry out additional provocations, while easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula," Yun told reporters after a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during his one-day visit to Beijing.

As part of their efforts to deepen policy consultations, Yun said he and Wang agreed to set up a hotline between them. Wednesday's meeting was their first since the launch of the new governments in both countries.

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Update #1: South Korea and China establish second hotline -- UPI
Update #2: Top diplomats of S. Korea and China to set up hotline -- Arirang News

My Comment: In case of a military confrontation with North Korea .... the Chinese (and the Americans, South Koreans, Japanese, etc.) want to make sure that the necessary back-channels are established to defuse and/or to stop it.

China And South Korea Differ On Their Maritime Boundaries

Wikipedia

China’s Next Flashpoint? -- The Diplomat

A dispute with South Korea over a remote reef has prompted a tense exchange of words between the two countries. There could be more to come.

It was named Socotra Rock when discovered by the British in 1900. It’s called Ieodo in South Korea, and Suyan Rock in China. Regardless of what it’s called, there usually isn’t much reason to discuss a reef that lays 149 kilometers from the nearest piece of South Korean territory and 247 kilometers from the closest part of China. But the area has the potential to become a flashpoint between two of Asia’s biggest economic and military powers.

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My Comment: If these two major Asian countries cannot resolve their differences over a remote reef .... just imagine what will happen when they try to resolve issues like this one.

Clash Between Chinese Sailors And South Korean Coast Guard Reported

China Fisherman Dies In Clash With S Korea Coast Guard -- BBC

The crew of a Chinese trawler and a South Korean patrol ship have clashed, leaving one fisherman dead and two missing, South Korean officials say.

The clash reportedly happened as the coast guards tried to prevent Chinese boats from fishing illegally off South Korea's west coast.

Video filmed by the coast guard shows officers fighting with fishermen wielding metal bars.

Four coast guard officers were injured, reports say.

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My Comment: This type of confrontation is not welcomed in view of the high tensions that presently exist on the Korean peninsula.