South Korea expressed concern over Chinese structure in disputed area of sea

South Korea expressed "deep concern" over China erecting a sea structure off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula during a maritime dialogue with Beijing in Seoul on Wednesday, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said. The Chinese side during the meeting had explained that the structure was fish-farming equipment and had nothing to do with territorial rights, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The structure in a disputed area of the Yellow Sea, known in South Korea as the West Sea, has raised alarm bells in Seoul over concerns China could be seeking to stake claims in the Provisional Maritime Zone, where the countries' exclusive economic zones overlap.