South Korea has teamed up with China for an Arctic research project.

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said the two countries reached an agreement on the research endeavor during a bilateral maritime cooperation conference held in Beijing.

As part of the agreement, South Korea and China will exchange experts starting next year to prepare for the joint project.

They will also strengthen technological cooperation in developing deep sea resources, using South Korea’s first icebreaker, the “Araon.”

In addition to the joint Arctic research, South Korea and China also agreed to boost bilateral cooperation and policy exchanges in the maritime science field.

The two countries will also hold a forum twice a year on the Yellow Sea maritime environment and will promote joint oceanographic geological research on the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea.