South Korea's Coast Guard seized two Chinese fishing boats near Baengnyeong Island on Saturday for illegal fishing in its waters. One Chinese sailor died during the operation after suffering cardiac arrest.
The Coast Guard said Saturday that the two boats had crossed the Northern Limit Line, the de facto border, by roughly 3 kilometers around 8 p.m. Friday. The vessels were intercepted 14.8 kilometers northwest of Baengnyeong Island.
During the crackdown, a Chinese national in his 40s suffered cardiac arrest. He received CPR while being taken to a hospital but was later pronounced dead. Fellow crew members said the sailor had consumed a large amount of alcohol.
Authorities notified Chinese consular officials of the death. They plan to question the remaining crew members about the illegal fishing.
