North Korea releases Chinese fishermen

Chinese state media reports that North Korea released 16 Chinese fishermen and their boat Tuesday following reports that armed assailants had taken the sailors hostage fueling strains between the two countries. While no details about the incident were provided, the vessel’s owner said that armed North Koreans seized the boat in waters between the two countries on May 6 and demanded 600,000 yuan ($98,000) for the men’s release, adding they were probably from Pyongyang’s military. The incident is the latest strain in the relationship between China and North Korea. Beijing is Pyongyang’s sole major ally and its key provider of aid and trade, but China said it “firmly opposed” the nuclear-armed North’s atomic test in February. North Korea has for years done most of its banking through China, but with the imposition of stronger UN sanctions after the nuclear test, Beijing has come under greater pressure to tighten its control on Pyongyang’s financial flows.


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