By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter

A Japanese coast guard patrol boat fired tear gas grenades at a South Korean fishing vessel working near the two countries’ southern sea border early Monday morning, injuring a South Korean fisherman.

Choi Bok-dol, 45, the captain of the 78-ton ship, ``Pungun-ho,’’ sustained a ruptured eye and a cut on the forehead after being hit by grenade shells. The injuries are not life threatening and he is receiving treatment at Pusan National University Hospital, maritime police said.

The incident took place at 7:15 a.m. in waters about 17.5 miles south of Hongdo, an island off the southern coast, when the patrol boat reportedly tried to stop the Korean fishing vessel from passing over into Japanese waters, police quoted South Korean fishermen as saying.

``The Japanese guard attempted to nab us for about two hours and fired around 50 tear gas bombs as we tried to escape,’’ Choi, one of the 10 crew on board, told reporters. ``They even came after us into our terrestrial waters in order to capture us.’’

But according to the Japanese media, the Japan Coast Guard responded when the Korean boat trespassed into the Japanese side of the Economic Exclusive Zones (EEZ), despite repeated warnings to go away.

South Korean police said they are investigating whether the South Korean boat passed over into the Japanese waters.

Foreign ministry officials said the use of violence in EEZs is permitted under certain circumstances. The government will take appropriate action if it is determined that the Japanese coast guard overreacted and was unreasonable, the officials added.

South Korean fishermen protested the response by the Japanese ship, claiming the use of tear gas grenades is in violation of international practices. Patrol ships usually don’t use violence to turn back fishing vessels violating maritime borders, but yesterday’s reaction was extraordinary, they said.

jj@koreatimes.co.kr