Seoul – Second Vice Foreign Minister of South Korea, Oh Young-ju, engaged in discussions with Tomas Heidar, the president of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), to strengthen cooperation on maritime issues.
According to Yonhap News Agency, During the meeting on Monday, as reported by Seoul's foreign ministry, oh acknowledged the tribunal's role in the peaceful resolution of international maritime conflicts. She emphasized South Korea's commitment to advancing the rule of law in the maritime field, in line with its status as a signatory of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The discussions also covered ways to enhance cooperation between South Korea and ITLOS, addressing global challenges such as climate change and maritime law. The meeting was attended by Rhee Zha-hyoung, director-general for international legal affairs at the ministry and an elected judge of the ITLOS for the 2023-2032 term, alongside four other judges.
Heidar's visit to Seoul coincides with his attendance at the eighth International Conference on the Law of the Sea, an annual forum on maritime law featuring ITLOS judges, government officials, and experts. ITLOS, under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, adjudicates global maritime issues, including sea border disputes among member states. South Korea has maintained a presence at the tribunal continuously since 1996.