Asia

Asia

China, SKorea meet over death of fisherman

12 October 2014 00:29 (UTC +04:00)

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported Saturday that China's Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao had met with Kwon Young Se on Friday night.

The 45-year-old captain of the 80-ton boat was shot by a Korean coast guard officer in the Yellow Sea and died after being transported to a hospital in the southwestern port city of Mokpo.

The Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement that Liu had made "solemn representations" with the South Korean ambassador over the incident, which happened around 144 kilometers off South Korea's western coast.

According to South Korean officials, two patrol ships were sent as part of a crackdown on illegal fishing, during which guns were used as fishermen on board the Chinese vessel reportedly fought with coast guard officials.

Seoul's foreign ministry had expressed regret over the death, telling its Chinese counterpart that an investigation into the incident was underway.

According to South Korea’s Coast Guard, 183 Chinese fishermen were arrested for illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea in 2013.