N.Korea Admits to Seizing S.Korean Fishing Boat

North Korea has admitted to seizing a S. Korean fishing vessel. The boat was captured on August 8 off the east coast of the divided peninsula. North Korea claims the vessel was fishing in their exclusive economic zone.

Crew onboard included four South Koreans and three Chinese. The South had sent North Korea a message urging it to release the boat and its crew "in accordance with international laws and customs and humanitarian spirit".

The fishing boat was taken in during a major South Korean naval exercise in the Yellow Sea, on the other side of the peninsula, for which the North had threatened retaliation.

Tensions between the two countries have run higher than normal since Seoul accused Pyongyang of torpedoing a South Korean navy ship in March, blowing the Cheonan in half and killing 46 sailors.