South Korea Urges North to Release Fishing Boat, Crew as Tension Increases

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South Korea Urges North to Release Fishing Boat, Crew as Tension Increases

By Bomi Lim - Aug 8, 2010 11:27 PM CT

South Korea called on North Korea to return a fishing boat and its crew seized

by the communist nation amid heightened tensions over military exercises

involving the U.S. Navy.

" We call on North Korea to take swift measures in line with international law

and urge for a quick return, " Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae Sung told

reporters today in Seoul.

The incident follows repeated threats from North Korea to retaliate " physically "

against joint U.S.-South Korea naval drills, held in response to the sinking of

a South Korea warship in March. An independent panel blamed a North Korean

submarine for the torpedo attack, which killed 46 sailors.

North Korea may use the fishing-boat seizure as a way to initiate dialogue with

the South without seeming to bow to international pressure, said Kim Yong Hyun,

a professor of North Korean studies at Seoul-based Dongguk University.

" North Korea can't afford to aggravate the situation with an incident that was

obviously caused accidentally, " Kim said.

North Korean authorities questioned the four South Koreans and three Chinese

aboard the fishing yesterday for allegedly violating the sea border off the

peninsula's east coast, Chun said. A North Korean patrol towed the 41-ton

Daeseung into the North's territory yesterday, according to the last

communication from the vessel, a South Korean Coast Guard official said

yesterday by phone.

The exact location of the boat at the time of the seizure can't be verified,

said the official, who couldn't be named, in line with government policy.

Stricter Sanctions

North Korea faces stricter U.S. sanctions targeting government officials and

banks after the international panel blamed Kim Jong Il's regime for the March 26

warship sinking. The Daeseung, which left the southern South Korean port of

Pohang on Aug. 2, was scheduled to return on Sept. 10, Chun said

" The crew and property of any fishing vessel detained by North Korea should be

well treated and we hope for their quick and safe return, " Ben Chang, a

spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, said yesterday in Washington.

" We support the Republic of Korea's call for this matter to be resolved quickly

in accordance with international law. "

In a show of alliance after the Cheonan sinking, the U.S. and South Korea staged

naval drills, involving a nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier, off the

peninsula's eastern coast between July 25 and 28. More exercises will be held

over the " next several months, " aimed at deterring further provocations by North

Korea, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters on Aug. 5 in Washington.

North Korea denies responsibility for the torpedo attack. The United Nations

Security Council in July condemned the sinking without naming a culprit.

South Korea remains technically at war with North Korea since their 1950-53 war

ended in a cease fire, which was never replaced by a peace treaty.