South Korean Coast Guard shoots dead Chinese fisherman

A Chinese fisherman died after being hit by a rubber bullet during a South Korean coast guard commando operation to combat illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea, South Korean officials said on October 16.

The 44-year-old died at around 6:00 am (0900 GMT), just hours after he was airlifted to a hospital in the southwestern port of Mokpo, a coast guard spokesman said.

"We believe he was hit by a rubber bullet in the chest during a coast guard raid to stop illegal fishing. The coast guard used rubber bullets to subdue the Chinese sailors who were armed with knives and other lethal weapons," the spokesman said.

The spokesman stressed that two Chinese vessels with a number of fishermen were detained.

About 30 Chinese vessels were fishing illegally in South Korean territorial waters near Hongdo Island when a 3,000-ton South Korean coast guard vessel conducted the operation./.

According to (Vietnam+) - DT