North Korea confirms seizing South Korean boat
By IANSThursday, August 19, 2010
PYONGYANG - North Korea confirmed Thursday, 11 days after a South Korean boat with seven people on board had gone missing, that it had seized the fishing trawler.
According to a report of the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the boat, with four South Koreans and three Chinese aboard, was intercepted by the North Korean navy Aug 8 when it was engaged in a fishing operation in the economic waters of the communist country, Xinhua said.
“In their testimonies they confessed that they intruded into the economic waters of North Korea,” the report said, adding that an investigation is underway.
The 41-tonne ‘Daeseung 55′ was detained by North Korean authorities in waters off its east coast.
The incident happened as Seoul was holding massive naval exercises in waters west of the divided Korean Peninsula.
South Korea called on its neighbour to follow international law and release the fishermen and their boat.
