Chinese fishermen were shot dead after entering South Korean waters.

According to Xinhua News Agency, a Chinese fisherman surnamed Song was shot dead by the South Korean Coast Guard (SKCG) on October 10 while fishing in waters 144km west of North Jeolla Province, South Korea.

Xinhua, citing South Korean news agency Yonhap, reported that the SKCG fired three warning shots when Song's 80-ton fishing vessel illegally encroached on South Korean waters, and then fired eight K5 rounds from a gun when Song strongly resisted.

Chinese fishing boat (Illustrative image: THX).

Following the incident, Mr. Song experienced shortness of breath and abdominal pain and was airlifted by an SKCG aircraft to Mokpo Hankook Hospital in Mokpo City for emergency treatment, but he passed away.

A hospital representative said Mr. Song sustained injuries to his left abdomen, with a bullet lodged in his body.

On the same day, the Associated Press quoted Kim Hye-gyeong, an SKCG officer, as saying that an SKCG soldier shot a Chinese fisherman in the stomach with a handgun after the fisherman resisted a request for inspection.

Kim added that when intercepted, the Chinese fishing vessel had entered South Korean waters 78 nautical miles (125 km) inland, near Wangdeungdo Island.

The incident is currently under investigation by the relevant parties.

According to VNA