South Korea said Tuesday that there is no doubt that the rock outcropping of Ieodo off its southern island of Jeju belongs within South Korea’s maritime boundary, responding to China’s proposal to demarcate the area’s exclusive economic zones through talks.

Ieodo, submerged 4.6 meters, lies within the overlapping exclusive economic zones of South Korea and China. Although an international maritime law stipulates that a submerged rock cannot be claimed as territory by any country, South Korea effectively controls Ieodo, which is closer to it than any other country.

“As Ieodo is closer to our side than any other country, Ieodo will be declared as within our maritime boundary through any talks,” foreign ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae said.

Cho made the remarks in response to a claim by the Chinese government that the issue of Ieodo should be resolved through bilateral talks. 

(Yonhap News)