Japan–Korea Joint Development Zone
The Japan–Korea Joint Development Zone, often abbreviated as the JDZ, is an area in the East China Sea jointly administered by Japan and the Republic of Korea since 1978. The area was first defined by the continental shelf in the waters south of Jeju Island, west of Kyushu, and north of Okinawa.
| Japan–Korea Joint Development Zone (JDZ) | |
|---|---|
| "7광구" or Block 7 in South Korea | |
Location of the JDZ in between Japan to the east, South Korea to the north, and China to the west | |
| Location |
|
| Coordinates | 31°N 128°E |
| Part of | East China Sea |
| Ocean/sea sources | Pacific Ocean |
| Surface area | 24,092 nmi (44,618 km; 27,725 mi) |
| Max. depth | 1,000 fathoms (6,000 ft; 1,800 m) |
| Sections/sub-basins | 6 |
The zone is believed to hold an estimated ₩9,000 trillion worth of oil reserves, but due to a lack of cooperation in recent decades, has produced none to date. The initial lack of progress is what Japan cites as their reason for their apparent decreased interest in the JDZ since the 1990s, while some officials in South Korea claim Japan is waiting until the agreement can expire after fifty years (in 2028) to claim the area for itself. The People's Republic of China in recent decades has also showed an increased interest in the area, and has agreed to work with Japan to develop similar oil reserves bordering the JDZ since 2008 without also including South Korea, making the issue a topic of debate mainly inside of the latter.