South Korea is seeking to host a new United Nations regional center for maritime law that will promote better understanding of sea boundaries and use of underwater resources, the government said Sunday.

The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea has proposed establishing three centers in the Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin American regions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

DOALOS director Sergei Tarassenko approached South Korea and asked if it wanted to host the Asia-Pacific center, that would be staffed by senior maritime law officials and regional specialists sent by the international body, it said.

The ministry said the request reflects Seoul’s contribution to supporting U.N. maritime law and treaties, adding hosting the center will further raise the country’s stature in the international community and permit it to better resolve maritime boundary issues with China and Japan.

More details of the center’s roles will be made available at a later date, but it will probably not be related to making authoritative interpretation of treaties, the ministry said.

“The center will probably be focused on enhancing the global communities understanding of international law and should fuel local interest and research on these matters,” a ministry source said.

There has been considerable debate on issues ranging from territorial water, the size of exclusive economic zones, continental shelves, transit rights for ships and development of undersea resources that have yet to be fully resolved.

If Seoul is chosen to host the center, the government will be tasked with providing the real estate and some support in running the center, which is likely to be set up in the capital city region. (Yonhap News)