Korea

North Korea releases four South Korean fishermen

Article published on the 2009-08-29 Latest update 2009-08-29 14:41 TU

The crew of the Yonan after arriving in Sokcho on 29 August
(Photo: Reuters)

Four South Korean fishermen who were detained for straying into North Korean territorial waters have been released on Saturday, according to maritime police.

The Yonan – a squid fishing trawler had strayed into North Korean territorial waters at the end of July, an incident that was blamed on a faulty navigation system.

“It’s nothing new for fishermen from either side to wind up in each others’ waters, for decades South Korean fishermen have strayed into North Korean territorial waters,” says correspondent Jason Strother.

“Earlier this summer North Korean fishermen floated down into South Korean territory, but they were promptly brought back,” he added.

North Korea had insisted that the boat illegally entered its territorial waters. But the release of the men comes one day after the two countries agreed to resume reunions between families who were divided between the countries during the Korean war in 1953.

“It definitely does seem that North Korea is offering some sort of an olive branch to both South Korea and the United States, but this is not completely unchartered territory, I’m thinking back to the summer of 2006, North Korea fired a long range missile over Japan, and they were slapped with United Nations sanctions,” Strother told RFI. “And then [North Korea] decided to play nice, and urge Washington and Seoul to reengage in dialogue,” he added.

Meanwhile, on Friday an anonymous diplomatic source announced that the United Arab Emirates had seized a cargo ship containing arms, which was on its way to Iran.

“It’s clear that Pyongyang is not respecting the conditions of UN resolution 1874 which forbids them from transporting arms to other countries,” Strother told RFI. “Even though while they’re releasing South Korean fishermen, American journalists and offering all sorts of other gestures, its clear that they are going to continue exporting arms, because that is a major cash-cow for the regime.”