The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has named South Korea among ten members of its “Category A” council for the fifth time in a row.

At the IMO meeting in London on Thursday, Japan received 142 votes at the top and South Korea and China ranked second jointly with 138 votes among the candidates.

The U.N. agency promotes shipping safety and cleaner oceans.

The council is an executive organ in which members are elected for two-year terms.

Category A countries are the ten countries with the largest interest in providing international shipping services. The group also includes the United States, Britain and Japan.

Category B consists of ten additional countries and Category C is the group of 20 selected on a regional basis.