S. Korea Studying Ways to Expand Air Defense Zone

(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) South Korea is stepping up interagency discussions on expanding its air defense zone, officials said Friday, after China refused to modify a recently declared air zone of its own to steer it clear of the South's, Yonhap news agency reported. "Since China's unilateral declaration, we have discussed ways to expand KADIZ (the Korean air defense identification zone) and related agencies have now formed a general understanding that expansion is necessary," a government official said on condition of anonymity. Discussions have progressed to a point where officials are talking about to what extent it should be expanded and how to notify neighboring countries of the expansion once a decision is made, the official said. "We can't do this in the unilateral way China did and cause frictions with neighboring countries," another government official said, also speaking on condition of anonymity. "How to inform neighboring countries after our decision is finalized is also subject to discussion." Last week, Beijing declared its new air zone that covers a larger part of the East China Sea than before. The move angered Seoul because the zone encroaches upon that of the South and covers the underwater rock of Ieodo controlled by South Korea. During annual high-level defense talks with China in Seoul, South Korea expressed "strong regret" and demanded the Chinese zone be modified to keep it out of the South's air zone. But China rejected the demand, and the South told China that it would consider expanding its own. Experts say there are three to four ways to expand KADIZ in consideration of the country's naval areas of operations, the naval equivalent of air defense zone, and the country's flight information region that is set for civilian air control. Whatever option the government chooses, an expanded zone is sure to include Ieodo. "For neighboring countries, expanding our air defense identification zone can amount to reducing their areas of operation," an official said. "We will work out the best solution after taking all factors, such as national interests, international practices and the international maritime law, into account."