The UN convention on the law of the sea and new fisheries agreements in north East Asia

South Korea, China and Japan ratified the Law of the Sea Convention and proclaimed their respective exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the late 1990s. The Law of the Sea Convention and the EEZ regime in North East Asia gave birth to three fisheries agreements: the fisheries agreement between South Korea and Japan; the fisheries agreement between the Peopleʹs Republic of China (China) and Japan; and the fisheries agreement between South Korea and China. As the delimitation of EEZ boundaries has not been achieved among them, the three agreements are all intended to deal with fisheries issues pending the delimitation of boundaries of the EEZ by setting up joint fishing zones in the overlapping areas. There are potential conflicts between the three littoral States because some of the zones overlap with each other.