SEOUL—South Korea pressed ahead with plans to expand its air-defense identification zone after a meeting with visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Friday.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Friday.
As early as Sunday, Seoul says it will make a formal announcement about expanding its air defense zone, a direct response to China's recent move to create an air-defense identification zone in the East China Sea that has angered Japan, South Korea and the U.S.
Seoul is the only one of China's neighbors to respond in-kind following Beijing's unexpected announcement last month that it would require foreign aircraft to notify it when entering its new air-defense zone.
According to a statement issued by South Korea's presidential office, Mr. Biden acknowledged South Korean President Park Geun-hye's position on Korea's air defense zone.
Both sides agreed to continue discussing the matter, the statement said.
U.S. officials had no immediate account of the closed-door meeting, but shortly afterward, South Korea's foreign affairs and national security ministers convened to finalize plans for the new, expanded Korean zone.
In a briefing earlier on Friday, a spokesman for the defense ministry said that South Korea's newly-drawn expanded air-defense zone should cover a submerged reef claimed by both China and South Korea that falls within China's new air defense zone.
The submerged rock, known internationally as the Socotra Rock, is called Ieodo. South Korea runs a marine research station built on top of the rock.
U.S. officials had no immediate account of the closed-door meeting, but shortly afterward, South Korea's foreign affairs and national security ministers convened to finalize plans for the new, expanded Korean zone.
In a briefing earlier on Friday, a spokesman for the defense ministry said that South Korea's newly-drawn expanded air-defense zone should cover a submerged reef claimed by both China and South Korea that falls within China's new air defense zone.
The submerged rock, known internationally as the Socotra Rock, is called Ieodo. South Korea runs a marine research station built on top of the rock.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said South Korea should keep to international laws and conventions in expanding its zone, adding that Beijing would stay in communication with Seoul.
Mr. Biden didn't refer to the plans for the enlarged South Korean air-defense zone in a speech at a Seoul university after his meeting with Ms. Park.
Mr. Biden didn't refer to the plans for the enlarged South Korean air-defense zone in a speech at a Seoul university after his meeting with Ms. Park.
However, he did repeat the U.S. position that it doesn't recognize the Chinese zone, while stopping short of calling on Beijing to repeal its air zone.
"We do not recognize the zone. It will have no effect on American operations—just ask my general," Mr. Biden said. "None. Zero."
In his speech, Mr. Biden called on South Korea, as well as Japan and China, to "lower the temperature" after several weeks of confusion and rhetoric on the region's various air defense zones.
"The possibility of miscalculation, a mistake, is real," he said, repeating recent calls by U.S. officials for better ties between Japan and South Korea, two U.S. allies that continue to bicker over historical and territorial disputes.
"The entire region will be more stable and more secure if the leading democracies—Japan, South Korea and the United States—are able to improve their relations and cooperation with one another," Mr. Biden said.
"We do not recognize the zone. It will have no effect on American operations—just ask my general," Mr. Biden said. "None. Zero."
In his speech, Mr. Biden called on South Korea, as well as Japan and China, to "lower the temperature" after several weeks of confusion and rhetoric on the region's various air defense zones.
"The possibility of miscalculation, a mistake, is real," he said, repeating recent calls by U.S. officials for better ties between Japan and South Korea, two U.S. allies that continue to bicker over historical and territorial disputes.
"The entire region will be more stable and more secure if the leading democracies—Japan, South Korea and the United States—are able to improve their relations and cooperation with one another," Mr. Biden said.
Mr. Biden's stop in Seoul, which concludes Saturday, wraps up a three-nation Asian tour that was originally planned to promote trade, but which has instead tested Washington's ability to keep tensions between China, Japan and South Korea from spilling over.
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