Latest  News

Released fishermen back to sea after NK kidnapping
The Chinese foreign ministry has confirmed that all 16 Chinese fishermen detained by armed North Koreans since May 5 were released Tuesday morning without a ransom being paid. The fishermen have said they will continue fishing at sea in a bid to make up for the financial losses incurred during the kidnapping.

Released fishermen back to sea after NK kidnapping
The Chinese foreign ministry has confirmed that all 16 Chinese fishermen detained by armed North Koreans since May 5 were released Tuesday morning without a ransom being paid. The fishermen have said they will continue fishing at sea in a bid to make up for the financial losses incurred during the kidnapping.

North Korea still holds 16 fishermen
The 16 Chinese fishermen reportedly kidnapped by armed North Koreans on May 5 are yet to be released, the owner of the hijacked fishing boat said Sunday. Analysts said the Chinese government should take a tougher stance toward Pyongyang to firmly ensure the safety of its citizens.

Chinese embassy in N.Korea working on detention of fishermen
The Chinese Embassy in the North Korea is working on the detention by the North Korea of Chinese fishermen with a vessel, asking Pyongyang to ensure the safety and legitimate rights and interests of the fishermen, a Chinese counsellor to the North Korea told Xinhua on Sunday.

Details

Timeline
Time	Event
May 5	16 Chinese fishermen were kidnapped by armed North Koreans.
May 5 to now	Yu Xuejun, the ship owner, had received eight calls from the kidnappers, who demanded 600,000 yuan ($97,740) as a ransom before 12, May 19.
May 10	Yu called the embassy for help.
May 18	Yu believed the 16 crew, aged between 21 and 46, were in good health according to the latest contact with them.
May 20	The Chinese Embassy in the North Korea is still working on the detention of Chinese fishermen.
Official voice
Jiang Yaxian, Chinese counsellor to the North Korea: "Upon receiving the call, the Chinese embassy promptly made representations to the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the North Korea Foreign Ministry, asking the North Korea side to release the boat and the fishermen as soon as possible. "We will continue efforts to ensure that the issue will be properly addressed at an early date."
Focuses
●The ship was detained in Chinese water according to the ship owner. ●The kidnappers, were highly likely from the North Korean army. ●The ship owner was "worried that the North Koreans could abuse our sailors."
Photos of the 16 fishermen (source: tencent Weibo account of the ship owner)

Comments

The disputes are negotiable - Global Times (Chinese edition)

Cui Zhiying, director of the Korean Peninsula Research Center at the Shanghai-based Tongji University:
As the relations between China and North Korea are gradually changing from traditional ideological allies to normal bilateral relations, these kinds of reports are being disclosed more frequently than before.

Disputes over fishing rights in border regions of the two countries could be solved through official negotiations. China is willing to engage in dialogue, but if North Korea fails to handle this situation properly the Chinese government will respond accordingly.

China should push for fishing dispute panel - Ifeng.com

Many Chinese ship owners choose to settle their disputes with North Korea without involving the government. But, as we’ve seen on numerous occasions in recent years, money alone does not guarantee the safety of our fisherman.

However the question China’s government now faces is how should it negotiate if North Korea continues to illegally detain Chinese fishermen and insist that they have entered North Korean waters?

Fuzzy border fuels fishing rights dispute - Oriental Morning Post

The problem is there is no clear maritime border between China and North Korea in this area. The current marker, 124 degrees east longitude, is not an official border, but merely a line fisherman have agreed upon among themselves. It has become “sensitive” since 2010. 

Previous  Disputes

Time	Dispute
2013	An insider told the Global Times that three boats from Dandong were detained by North Korea this year, two of which were released after paying fines.
Oct. 16, 2012	A Chinese fisherman was shot with a rubber bullet by a South Korean officer who was trying to arrest him during a raid. He died from injuries after being transported to a nearby hospital, according to South Korean authorities.
May 8, 2012	Three Chinese fishing boats, with 29 fishermen, were allegedly seized by an unidentified North Korean ship.
Mar. 30, 2012	Palauan authorities arrested 25 Chinese fishermen and killed one whom Palau claims were fishing illegally in the Pacific island country's territorial waters.
Oct. 24, 2012	Naval police in Mokpo, South Korea's South Jeolla Province, arrested 31 Chinese fishermen and seized three Chinese fishing vessels.

News Vocab

扣押 kòuyā

“扣押”   v.  ① to detain, to hold sb in custody；② to confiscate sth.

Example：

5月5日夜间，一艘载有16名中国渔民、编号为“辽普渔25222”的辽宁渔船被朝鲜军方扣押。（huanqiu.com）

A fishing boat, known as Liaoning Generic Fishing No. 25222, carrying 16 fishermen from Dalian in Northeast China's Liaoning Province was detained by North Korean armed forces on May 5.