Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit China on Friday for talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

ITAR-TASS, Russia’s official news agency, reported that the officials will likely discuss managing the crisis on the Korean Peninsula that has erupted in the wake of the sinking of South Korea’s “Cheonan” naval vessel.

Lavrov appeared on Russian television on Wednesday and said that the Korean Peninsula is currently in danger of experiencing conflict and that a thorough, independent probe into the sinking of the Cheonan is necessary.

South Korea recently conveyed its intent to Russia to send the sinking of the Cheonan to the United Nations Security Council.