Russia has summoned the North Korean Charge d’Affaires
to the Foreign Ministry for an explanation on Tuesday after a clash in
the Sea of Japan between Russian border patrol ships and a group of
North Korean poachers fishing in Russian economic territory.
Russia reported two schooners and 11 motorboats from North Korea were
spotted in Russia’s Exclusive Economic Zon. Border patrol went to detain
the vessels, but after taking the first one, the second schooner opened
fire on the Russians, wounding at least three border patrol guards.
The Russians ultimately captured every single one of them, some 80 North
Korean sailors in all, and since the charges went from illegal fishing
to attacking and wounding three Russian border agents, it’s a more
serious incident now.
It’s not clear what is going to happen from here. North Korea had
briefly captured but released a Russian fishing boat a few months ago.
Now with an actual clash, maritime security is likely to be a higher
priority in the area.
Silly response by north Korea.
North Koreans
North Koreans with guns? Something fishy with that report.
Fisherman really don’t like being told they can’t fish somewhere…..
I blame Iran.
This brings up a few questions I have about the relationship between the NK military and the NK economy. According to this report, these were NK sailors, not NK fishermen. The fact that they were shooting at Russian border guards tells me they were military, since I don’t think NK civilian fishermen would be armed. I don’t even know if there are civilian fishermen in NK. NK apparently gives the fishing rights to it’s navy. I have also heard from a fairly reliable source that if a family has children in the military, the military sends over tradespeople to deal with that family’s home repairs, and other services.
Of course, the last countries that NK needs to offend right now are Russia and China.