North Korea released a Chinese fishing boat on Tuesday more than two weeks after it was detained in waters between the countries, as China demanded an explanation for the incident that has been a new irritant in ties between the often uneasy allies.
Chinese counsellor to North Korea Jiang Yaxian had told state media earlier that North Korea had “grabbed” the private vessel from off the northern Chinese city of Dalian in waters between China and the Korean peninsula.
Other Chinese state media quoted the owner of the boat, Yu Xuejun, as saying North Korea was demanding 600,000 yuan (HK$759,552) for its safe return, along with its 16 crew.
Yu told Chinese media the boat had been snatched on the evening of May 5 and he had approached Chinese authorities five days later to ask them to intervene.
Tension has been mounting between North Korea and China even though China is the North’s most important economic and political backer.
Some Chinese banks have frozen out North Korea’s main foreign exchange bank amid frustration in Beijing over the North’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.
Boat owner Yu said his vessel was released early on Tuesday and they had not paid the North Koreans any money.