Coastguardsman found dead after inspecting Chinese boat

MOKPO, South Korea, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- A coastguardsman was found dead Friday
afternoon after a skirmish occurred while he was inspecting a Chinese boat for
alleged illegal fishing in the South Korean waters, maritime officials said.
The body of the 48-year-old Coastguardsman, who is identified only by his last
name Park, was found at 1:10 p.m. Friday floating in the waters near Gageo
Island, a two and half-hour distance by shi from the southwestern port city of
Mokpo.
Park had been missing since around 7:40 p.m. Thursday, after he stopped two
Chinese fishing boats 73 kilometers off the island for allegedly fishing in South
Korea's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Coast Guard said.
The fishermen were reported to have physically resisted when Park and his two
other colleagues stopped them, wielding metal pipes, shovels and clubs.
The 50-ton Chinese fishing boats were caught at around 10:30 a.m. Friday. Eleven
Chinese fishermen on board are now under further inspection, the officials said.
"When Park went missing, the weather on the sea was not good and the fishermen
strongly resisted," an official said.