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Journalism of Courage
North Korea released 16 Chinese fishermen and their boat today,Beijing said,demanding an explanation after the kidnapping by armed attackers heightened strains between the neighbours. 8220;The DPRK side released the fishing boat and all the fishermen were safe and healthy,8221; foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular press briefing,using the North8217;s official name.
The vessel8217;s owner had not paid a ransom,he added,calling on Pyongyang to launch 8220;a full investigation into the incident and make an explanation to us and take effective measures to prevent the reoccurrence of such incidents8221;. The seizure is the latest strain in the relationship. Owner Yu Xuejun told AFP that armed North Koreans whom he said were probably from Pyongyang8217;s military detained the boat in waters between the two countries on May 6 and demanded 600,000 yuan USD 98,000 for the men8217;s release.
Reports said the boat8217;s captors had asked Yu to pay the ransom into a bank account in the northeastern Chinese city of Dandong,a major hub for trade between China and the North.
The detention caused outrage online in China,with Internet users calling on Beijing to take a tough stance against Pyongyang,and accusing authorities of not trying hard enough to secure the men8217;s release.
In an editorial today before the release was announced,the state-run Global Times,which often reflects nationalist opinion,said Beijing should 8220;should let the North Korean side know we are angry8221;. 8220;If North Korea continues to go rogue,China should take actions to push it toward a more measured response,8221; it said,adding: 8220;If we don8217;t set rules for North Korea,our whole government8217;s image may be seen as being too weak.8221;
The incident came a year after the return of 29 Chinese fishermen also kidnapped by unidentified North Koreans who had demanded a 1.2 million yuan ransom.
Those sailors were returned without ransom after the foreign ministry said it had contacted North Korea to try to resolve the case,Xinhua reported at the time. 8220;There is no clear demarcation of the sea border between China and North Korea,8221; the Global Times quoted Lu Chao,a Chinese maritime researcher,as saying. 8220;Whenever North Korean coastal troops lack money,they cross the line and detain Chinese vessels to extort money. And most ship owners choose to pay the ransom if the amount is not too high,8221; he said.
