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North Korea Seizes South Korean Fishing Vessel

by cyn.khoo | July 29, 2009 at 03:52 pm

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North Korea seized a fishing boat from South Korea early evening on Wednesday, July 29 (PST), after the vessel inadvertently crossed the country's border in the East Sea (also known as the Sea of Japan).

According to officials from Seoul and the South Korea defense ministry, four people were on board the 30-ton boat when it was captured, having crossed the border approximately 20 miles away from the coast.

"The satellite navigation system on the boat appears to have malfunctioned," the official said. "A North Korean patrol boat in the area took the boat into custody, and North Korean authorities remain in control of it."

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albertacowpoke

at 16:29 on July 29th, 2009

Yonhap news agency quoted a Defense Ministry official as saying that the incident took place at about 6:30 a.m. in the East Sea and that four people were on board the South Korean boat.

He said that the boat's satellite navigation system appeared to have malfunctioned and that a North Korean patrol boat took the ship into custody. Yonhap said the official spoke on condition of anonymity.

South Korea was working to secure the release of the boat, Yonhap quoted another official as saying.

Yonhap said the incident took place in the East Sea, the body of water off the east coast of the Korean peninsula.