The disclosure of joint research on fine dust by South Korea, Japan, and China has been delayed for an indefinite period, due to China's objection.

The Ministry of Environment in Seoul said on Tuesday that the disclosure of the report, originally agreed upon by the three countries' environment ministers last August, has been suspended.

The report on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollutants in Northeast Asia(LTP) was expected to scientifically prove how fine dust travels across the region. 

Chinese officials are said to have objected to the disclosure, citing that the ministers had "expected" not "agreed" to share the results of the research, and that the data on China referred to the years between 2008 and 2010, which is outdated.

A Seoul official said that environment ministers from the three countries would discuss the matter again this month in China.