2010-08-19 14:04

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) confirmed Thursday that it has seized a South Korean fishing boat, the official KCNA news agency reported.

Related readings:  S. Korean fishing boat detained by DPRK: local media  DPRK seizes ROK fishing boat

According to the KCNA, the boat, with four South Koreans and three Chinese aboard, was intercepted by the DPRK navy at around 10:15 on August 8 when it was engaged in a fishing operation in the economic waters of the DPRK.

"In their testimonies they confessed that they intruded into the economic waters of the DPRK," the report said, adding that an investigation is underway.

The 41-ton "Daeseung 55" was detained by the DPRK authorities on August 8 in waters presumably within the DPRK's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off its east coast.

The incident came as Seoul was holding massive naval exercises in waters west of the divided Korean Peninsula.