Coast Guard Drill

[Anchor Lead]

As the autumn fishing season is expected bring many illegal Chinese fishing boats into Korean territorial waters, elite members of the Korean Coast Guard took part in a competition to test their capabilities to apprehend illegal fishermen.

[Pkg]

Korea Coast Guard speed boats race across the water. They quickly surround an illegal Chinese fishing boat.

[Soundbite] "Visually confirmed a Chinese fishing boat! Will collect evidence! Collect evidence!"

The crew members resist violently. But the Korea Coast Guard agents jump onto the fishing vessel in a flash and subdue them.

[Soundbite] "Go on! Go on! Turn around!"

This is not a real situation, but a contest to pick the coast guard agents who are best at arresting illegal foreign fishing boats, from a pool of 120 entrants from all over the nation. The contestants accurately hit the marks on another ship with rubber bullets from a high-speed boat coasting at 70 kilometer per hour. They also expertly navigate around obstacles.

[Soundbite] Jang Ho-seok(Tongyeong Maritime Police Station) : "We will make up for our shortcomings and do our best to deter even a single Chinese fishing boat from invading our waters."

This simulation drill helps sharpen the Coast Guard members' skills and boost their morale.

[Soundbite] Kim Hyeong-min(Korea Coast Guard) : "It's hot, but we Coast Guard members steadily enhance our capabilities through such training and assessments during the non-fishing season."

With the fishing season due to start next month, Chinese fishermen will again invade Korean waters in droves to fish illegally. The Korean coast guard is working hard to heighten its capacity to protect the nation's fishing resources.