The South Korean government is reviewing the holding of a bilateral South Korea-China environment committee regarding an oil leak in the waters off the Gulf of Bohai, which is on China's northeastern coast and is near South Korea.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae said in a regular briefing on Tuesday that the ministry is reviewing holding the South Korea-China joint briefing ahead of schedule. The original plans called for its opening in the second half of this year.

Cho also said that South Korea would be able to propose joint response measures, including a plan to prevent oil pollution in the sea.

The spokesman also said that the Foreign Ministry has already requested the Chinese government to provide specific information, including the details of the accident and the amount of crude oil leaked.