South Korea and the United Nations Command sent in troops to crack down on illegal Chinese fishing boats in neutral waters around the mouth of the Han River between the two Koreas. (image: Joint Chiefs of Staff)
BEIJING, June 15 (Korea Bizwire) – China said Wednesday that its fishermen have been educated on international fishing agreements as South Korea’s military seized two Chinese boats illegally fishing in neutral waters between the two Koreas.
The seizure was made on Tuesday evening, four days after South Korea’s military began an operation to repel Chinese boats illegally fishing in the rich fishing grounds in a no man’s land between the mouth of the Han River and the Yellow Sea.
“China always asks our fishermen to abide by laws and regulations in fishing agreements when they are in fishing operations,” China’s foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular press briefing.
Lu also said the law enforcement operation by South Korea should be executed in a civilized and rational manner to “protect the legitimate rights of Chinese fishermen.”
Vessels are not allowed in the neutral waters because the area functions as a buffer zone between Seoul and Pyongyang.
These waters are distinct from areas around the Northern Limit Line that acts as the de facto border in the open sea.
Amid growing anger and diplomatic protests over Chinese boats illegally fishing near the tense sea border, the South Korea sent military police officers on four patrol boats into the buffer zone to drive out Chinese fishermen.
The military patrol was approved by the United Nations Command, which oversees the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War and supervises the neutral waters.
(Yonhap)
