China urges early release of fishermen

The Chinese embassy in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is looking into the detention by the DPRK of Chinese fishermen, asking Pyongyang to ensure the safety and legitimate rights and interests of the fishermen, a counsellor from the embassy said on Sunday. Counsellor Jiang Yaxian said that a private fishing boat from Dalian city in northeast China's Liaoning province, the Liaoning Generic Fishing No 25222, was seized by the DPRK, and the ship's owner called the embassy for help on May 10. "Upon receiving the call, the Chinese embassy promptly made representations to the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, asking the DPRK to release the boat and the fishermen as soon as possible," Jiang said.

Xinhua

(China Daily 05/20/2013 page12)