The two Chinese trawlers were brought back to Mokpo. (Photo/Xinhua)

The South Korean coast guard in Mokpo, a city 410 kilometers south of Seoul, says it will charge the 11 Chinese fishermen it detained on Wednesday for fishing in a South Korean area of the Yellow Sea. The authorities are also suspending the autopsy of Zhang Shuwen, who was killed during the raid, at the request of his family.

The coast guard said it plans to formally arrest the 11 Chinese nationals for obstructing their work and for fishing illegally in the country's economic exclusive zone. The autopsy of 44-year-old Zhang Shuwen who died during the raid has also been put off, according to the state-run China News Service and the BBC.

Zhang was killed during the raid on Tuesday, when the South Korean authorities found two Chinese trawlers fishing illegally and tried to apprehend them, according to the Chinese version of the South Korean Chosun Ilbo.

They encountered strong resistance from the fishermen, who had installed steel bars on the boats to prevent the coast guard officers from boarding. The fishermen were also wielding weapons including handsaw, axes and harpoons. The coast guard officers fired five baton rounds, one of which struck Zhang on the chest.

The coast guard officers moved Zhang to their ship and tried to resuscitate him before sending him to Mokpo National Hospital by helicopter. Zhang died around 6pm on the same day, according to Chosun Ilbo. The two Chinese trawlers have been impounded at the port of Mokpo, reported China News Service.

Teng Anjun, the Chinese consul general in Gwangju, has visited the scene and been briefed about the incident. The officials also spoke with the fishermen for two hours, reported the Chinese media.

The Chinese foreign ministry and officials in South Korea on Wednesday called on Seoul to investigate the incident and punish the person responsible for Zhang's death. They also urged South Korea not to use force in the future to prevent similar incidents, reported China News Service.

References:

Teng Anjun　　滕安軍

Zhang Shuwen　　張樹文