N.Korea confirms seizure of S.Korean fishing boat

SEOUL, Aug 19, 2010 (AFP) - North Korea said Thursday its navy had seized a South Korean fishing boat for poaching in its exclusive economic zone.

The boat was captured on August 8 off the east coast, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said.

"A South Korean boat which was fishing in our exclusive economic zone in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) was seized by the KPA (North Korean military) navy on August 8," it said.

"A preliminary investigation revealed the boat, with four South Koreans and three Chinese on board, intruded into our economic zone.... Investigation will continue," it added.

The seizure of the 41-tonne fishing boat further heightened months-old tensions between the two sides in the aftermath of the deadly sinking of a South Korean fishing boat in March with the loss of 46 lives.

The South has sent North Korea a message urging it to release the boat and its crew "in accordance with international laws and customs and humanitarian spirit".

The South's coastguard has said the boat was presumed to have been inside an economic zone proclaimed by the North in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) when it was detained.

The seizure was made during a major South Korean naval exercise in the Yellow Sea, for which the North had threatened retaliation.


by Nina Negron
(c) 2010 AFP