|
A maritime standoff over the Korean trawler Shinpung-ho, which had threatened to further damage the relationship between Korea and Japan, was resolved by way of a political compromise on Thursday. So what went on? The Chosun Ilbo has the answers.
¨ç Did the Shinpung-ho violate Japan¡¯s EEZ(exclusive economic zone)?
Yes, Seoul says. ¡°Analysis of Japanese video footage and satellite tracking data revealed that the boat did in fact violate Japan¡¯s EEZ.¡± The captain of the boat gave the Japanese a signed confession to this effect.
¨è Did it actually do any fishing in Japan¡¯s EEZ?
The skipper, Chung Wook-hyeon, denies having fished. Japan has not yet produced any evidence that the boat was illegally fishing in its EEZ.
¨é If it wasn¡¯t going to fish illegally, why did it cross over into Japan's EEZ?
¡°We crossed over by mistake because we dozed off for a moment,¡± says the crew. Claims were made that the Shinpung-ho was one of 22 Korean fishing boats on a Japanese blacklist for habitually violating Japanese fishing zones, but the Korea Coast Guard said the Japanese never told them of this.
¨ê If the Shinpung-ho wasn¡¯t fishing, can the Japanese crack down on it?
A government official dealing with international law explained that according to fishing agreements between Korea and Japan and the UN Law of the Sea, Japan could crack down on the vessel. In the case of the Shinpung-ho, Japanese police also had the right to pursue it under Article 111 of the UN Law of the Sea.
¨ë Who beat whom?
The crew of the Shinpung-ho said two Japanese police officers beat 39-year-old mate Hwang Gap-sun, who was holding the key to the bridge. Hwang was hospitalized with bruises to the head and elsewhere that will take four weeks to heal. The Japanese side, however, says it was two Japanese policemen against 10 healthy Korean fishermen, so it was they who were threatened. They also claim they were held captive. The initial presumption is that both situations happened simultaneously.
¨ì Did the boat try to make off with the Japanese police on board?
Our government says yes. It also acknowledges this to be a violation of international law. A government official said that depending on the results of the investigation, the crew might be charged with illegal detention and given criminal punishment. This means that while the men are handed over to Korea because they are Koreans, our authorities must clearly determine whether any crime was committed.
¨í Where will the trial be held?
International law doesn¡¯t say. But in this case, due to agreement between the two sides, Korea will exercise jurisdiction.
¨î Why are we paying a 500,000 yen security to Japan for violations?
Korea isn¡¯t paying the money directly but instead giving a written guarantee that it will pay if the Korean court fines the trawler¡¯s crew.
¨ï Could it happen again?
The Korean side is upset by the overreaction of the Japanese maritime police. Meanwhile, the Japanese side is also reportedly incensed, with Japanese fishing authorities and Coast Guard taking a ¡°just you wait¡± attitude.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
