Some crew of hijacked ships released
Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily |
May 19, 2012, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Chinese Embassy in North Korea said yesterday that some crew members of the three Chinese fishing boats allegedly held by North Korean gunmen were heading back home.
The embassy said it is working to resolve the issue over the detention of the Chinese fishermen and their vessels, asking Pyongyang to ensure their legitimate rights and interests, a Chinese counsellor to North Korea said in Pyongyang.
Counsellor Jiang Yaxian told Xinhua that Ambassador Liu Hongcai and other Chinese diplomats have been working actively on the issue "through negotiation and close contact," to fully ensure the Chinese crew's personal safety and legitimate rights and interests.
According to the North Korean side, the detained crew are now in "sound health condition with sufficient food and health care," and that "part of the detained vessels and crew have already been sent back to China."
Jiang said the embassy will continue its efforts to ensure that the issue is properly addressed as soon as possible.
On Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China was in close communication with North Korea through relevant channels to push for a proper resolution of the issue at an early date.
It was reported that three Chinese fishing boats with 29 crew members on board were hijacked by a North Korean gunboat on May 8 on a China section of the Yellow Sea. The hijackers, armed men in blue hats and uniforms, reportedly demanded 1.2 million yuan (US$190,000) for their release and later cut the "ransom" to 900,000 yuan.
The embassy said it is working to resolve the issue over the detention of the Chinese fishermen and their vessels, asking Pyongyang to ensure their legitimate rights and interests, a Chinese counsellor to North Korea said in Pyongyang.
Counsellor Jiang Yaxian told Xinhua that Ambassador Liu Hongcai and other Chinese diplomats have been working actively on the issue "through negotiation and close contact," to fully ensure the Chinese crew's personal safety and legitimate rights and interests.
According to the North Korean side, the detained crew are now in "sound health condition with sufficient food and health care," and that "part of the detained vessels and crew have already been sent back to China."
Jiang said the embassy will continue its efforts to ensure that the issue is properly addressed as soon as possible.
On Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China was in close communication with North Korea through relevant channels to push for a proper resolution of the issue at an early date.
It was reported that three Chinese fishing boats with 29 crew members on board were hijacked by a North Korean gunboat on May 8 on a China section of the Yellow Sea. The hijackers, armed men in blue hats and uniforms, reportedly demanded 1.2 million yuan (US$190,000) for their release and later cut the "ransom" to 900,000 yuan.
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