The Action Plan for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region (NOWPAP) and three Resolutions were adopted at the First Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM) in Seoul (September 1994) by the NOWPAP member states namely People’s Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as China, Japan, Korea and Russia). Resolution 1 identified five areas of priority for implementation of the Action Plan, one of which was NOWPAP/4: Development of Effective Measures for Regional Cooperation in Marine Pollution Preparedness and Response. For implementation of NOWPAP/4, it was recommended that a Forum on Marine Pollution Prevention in the Northwest Pacific be created under the NOWPAP framework. The objectives of the Forum were specified as follows: (i) to exchange information on marine pollution preparedness and response; (ii) to develop the NOWPAP Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan (Plan); and (iii) to develop the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Regional Cooperation Regarding Preparedness and Response to Oil Spills. The NOWPAP member states, supported by UNEP and IMO, have worked towards achievement of these objectives through Forum Meetings as well as the informal meetings and intersessional work.