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| Chinese fishermen seized by North Koreans freed | Chinese fishermen seized by North Koreans freed |
| (8 days later) | |
| A Chinese boat and 16 fishermen seized for ransom by armed North Koreans two weeks ago have been released, easing the latest irritant in relations between the neighbouring allies. | A Chinese boat and 16 fishermen seized for ransom by armed North Koreans two weeks ago have been released, easing the latest irritant in relations between the neighbouring allies. |
| Owner Yu Xuejun, who was not on board the boat when it was seized on 5 May, wrote on his microblog that his captain called him at 3.50am to say the crew and boat were set free and that they were on their way home. | Owner Yu Xuejun, who was not on board the boat when it was seized on 5 May, wrote on his microblog that his captain called him at 3.50am to say the crew and boat were set free and that they were on their way home. |
| He told the state-run Global Times newspaper all crew members were safe. | He told the state-run Global Times newspaper all crew members were safe. |
| Yu, who had earlier reported the seizure to Chinese authorities, began publicising the incident over the weekend as a deadline for a 600,000 yuan (£64,000) ransom drew near. Chinese state media then began reporting on the incident, saying China was demanding that North Korea release the men. | Yu, who had earlier reported the seizure to Chinese authorities, began publicising the incident over the weekend as a deadline for a 600,000 yuan (£64,000) ransom drew near. Chinese state media then began reporting on the incident, saying China was demanding that North Korea release the men. |
| Yu said on his microblog on Tuesday that he had been unable to pay any ransom and he thanked China's foreign ministry for negotiating on his behalf. | Yu said on his microblog on Tuesday that he had been unable to pay any ransom and he thanked China's foreign ministry for negotiating on his behalf. |
| Yu's pleas for help and fears that his crew had been mistreated were forwarded thousands of times on the internet and a high-ranking Chinese military officer, Major General Luo Yuan, wrote on Sina Weibo of his fury at the detention. | Yu's pleas for help and fears that his crew had been mistreated were forwarded thousands of times on the internet and a high-ranking Chinese military officer, Major General Luo Yuan, wrote on Sina Weibo of his fury at the detention. |
| "North Korea has gone too far! Even if you are short of money, you can't grab people across the border and blackmail," wrote Luo, who has more than 300,000 followers. | "North Korea has gone too far! Even if you are short of money, you can't grab people across the border and blackmail," wrote Luo, who has more than 300,000 followers. |
| The seizure had added to China's frustration with North Korea over its recent tests of nuclear and rocket technologies in defiance of international efforts to curb the country's nuclear ambitions. At the same time, the Chinese government has been under intense pressure to protect its citizens abroad. | The seizure had added to China's frustration with North Korea over its recent tests of nuclear and rocket technologies in defiance of international efforts to curb the country's nuclear ambitions. At the same time, the Chinese government has been under intense pressure to protect its citizens abroad. |
| A similar abduction a year ago of Chinese fishermen by armed North Koreans caused an uproar in China when they were released – some of them stripped of everything but their underwear – saying they had been starved and beaten. | A similar abduction a year ago of Chinese fishermen by armed North Koreans caused an uproar in China when they were released – some of them stripped of everything but their underwear – saying they had been starved and beaten. |
| Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei had declined to answer a question on Monday about who it believed was behind the boat seizure, but he made clear Beijing expected the North Korean government to resolve the situation. | Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei had declined to answer a question on Monday about who it believed was behind the boat seizure, but he made clear Beijing expected the North Korean government to resolve the situation. |
| An expert on North Korea at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences in north-east China said he doubted the North Korean government had any knowledge of the incident when it happened. | An expert on North Korea at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences in north-east China said he doubted the North Korean government had any knowledge of the incident when it happened. |
| "This incident is purely about a lawless act by the North Korean border police to blackmail our fishermen," said Lu Chao, adding that such attacks frequently happened to Chinese fishermen working near the border waters. | "This incident is purely about a lawless act by the North Korean border police to blackmail our fishermen," said Lu Chao, adding that such attacks frequently happened to Chinese fishermen working near the border waters. |
| "Sometimes, if the amount they are asking for isn't too high, the boat owner would just pay it," he said. This time, it might be related to spring food shortages, "so they are asking for a huge ransom". | "Sometimes, if the amount they are asking for isn't too high, the boat owner would just pay it," he said. This time, it might be related to spring food shortages, "so they are asking for a huge ransom". |
| The owner had previously been reported as saying he received a phone call from North Korea telling him his boat had been in North Korean waters, but that he was certain it had been floating in Chinese waters. | The owner had previously been reported as saying he received a phone call from North Korea telling him his boat had been in North Korean waters, but that he was certain it had been floating in Chinese waters. |
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