1.
GV Panmunjom border village
0.03

2.
GV Troops and newsmen at border village
0.06

3.
SV Fishermen coming out of coach and walking to building (3 shots)
0.21

4.
SV & GV Troops guarding fishermen before the handover (2 shots)
0.27

5.
CU & SV Fishermen being released (3 shots)
0.53

6.
CU U.S. Rear Admiral Hamm looking on
0.54

7.
SV Fishermen undressing and throwing clothes on ground (3 shots)
1.05

8.
GV U.S. troops being dismissed
1.15

9.
CU & SV North Korean negotiator signing documents and leaving (3 shots)
1.25

10.
GV U.S. troops being dismissed
1.30



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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: For the second time in three months the border village of Panmunjom in Korea has been the scene of the release of North Korean fishermen who have been held after straying into South Korean waters. On representatives of the North Korean government.

On the 12th of June, the American-led United Nations Command released eight North Koreans captured in South Koran waters. Then on Monday (3 July) four more fishermen were released in a similar ceremony in Panmunjom. The South Korean government said that the North Korean boat sank after a collision with a patrol craft that challenged it in South Korean waters off the west coast.

The problem of fishermen straying into South Korean waters has recently proved very sensitive. The South Koreans claim that some of the fishing boats have been armed and have been heading towards strategic areas. The South Koreans have labelled previous captured boats "spy ships" but did not make these allegations during the release of these fishermen. Handover negotiations were led by U.N.C. officer Rear Admiral Warren Hamm.

Just after their release the North Koreans repeated an anti-South Korean demonstration performed during the June 12th accession. The four fishermen came out of a building after being handed over to North Korean officials, ripped off their clothes and threw them to the ground while cursing the South Koreans.

Reports said the men were directed to carry out their demonstration by a North Korean officer. The fishermen shouted demands for the return of their first mate who had stayed on in South Korea.