China's official Xinhua News Agency says that China and North Korea launched a joint team on Wednesday to patrol the region near the Yalu River, which borders the two countries.

Xinhua said that the team consists of three Chinese and two North Korean ships. The team was created by the local governments of China’s Dandong City and North Korea’s North Pyeongan Province.

The patrol is likely in preparation for the two countries’ joint development of the island of Hwanggeumpyueong at the mouth of the Yalu River. It is also expected to deal a serious blow to smuggling between North Korean and Chinese traders and help catch North Korean escapees.