The Foreign Ministry says that China is thoroughly investigating Saturday's collision between Korean and Chinese cargo ships to determine the cause.

It said that Chinese authorities will discuss follow-up measures after they complete their probe.

A Seoul official added that China is mobilizing 20 vessels and two choppers to locate missing people at the site of the collision, but none of them have been found.

The Korean government will establish a hotline between the Korean consulate in Qingdao and Chinese maritime authorities in Shandong Province to support search and rescue efforts.

The official added that the Korean Embassy in Beijing and the Maritime Ministry will spearhead consultations with China to devise countermeasures.