BEIJING -- China has instructed six provinces to step up vigilance following an outbreak of bird flu in the Republic of Korea (ROK), according to the Agriculture Ministry.

The ROK has confirmed two outbreaks of bird flu, with 236,000 chickens as well as pigs and dogs culled.

Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are all relatively close to the ROK.

The Chinese Agriculture Ministry said the outbreak poses a serious threat to China as the two countries are located on the same bird migratory route.

The ROK and China are both situated on the bird migration route between East Asia and Australia.

The ministry ordered the six provinces to dispatch more staff to monitor borders and migratory bird habitats.

Local officials in Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning have been ordered to work around the clock to collect and send suspicious samples to the state bird flu laboratory, according to the ministry.

In a related development, Hong Kong announced on Monday it was suspending poultry product imports from the ROK.