South Korea said on Friday it will accept the release of a South Korean fishing boat captured by North Korea later in the day, with a government spokesman saying it is “a relief” the crewmen on board would be returned. The South’s Unification Ministry’s spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said the North’s message via its state agency early on Friday was the first contact Seoul had received regarding the vessel, Baik told a regular media briefing. The fishing boat, which left port on October 16, had been reported as missing from October 21 and relevant authorities had been searching for the vessel, Baik added. North Korea said it had captured the boat on October 21 and will release it at 0930 GMT on Friday in waters off the east coast.

Source: Dhaka Tribune October 27, 2017 03:45 UTC