Report: Chinese ships avoid Yellow Sea

SEOUL, May 28 (UPI) -- Chinese fishing vessels are avoiding the Yellow Sea as North Korea's actions raise the threat of a military conflict with South Korea, a source told Yonhap.

"Chinese fishing ships operating near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) began withdrawing yesterday," the South Korean defense source told Yonhap news agency.

The source said South Korean military were trying to find out whether the fishing ships were told to leave by North Korea, which has raised global concerns with its claims it conducted a second nuclear test and firing a series of short-range missiles this week.

Concerns about a military confrontation also have increased after threats from Pyongyang over South Korea's decision to participate in the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative to stop the transportation and trade of weapons of mass destruction.

The source told Yonhap since the threat, the number of Chinese vessels involved in crab fishing has dropped from 280 to about half that number.

An official at the South Korean presidential office, however, played down the reported withdrawal of Chinese vessels, Yonhap said.

"All Chinese ships would have evacuated the area if that was the case," the official said.