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S. Korean admits to Japanese poaching

SEOUL, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Relations between South Korea and Japan eased Friday after a Korean fishing captain admitted to poaching in Japanese waters this week.

The unidentified man at the helm of a 29-ton fishing boat was arrested Thursday after a chase involving four Japanese coast guard ships in the East Sea, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said.

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The captain agreed to pay more than $3,000 in fines for poaching and attempting to elude coast guard officials, the report said.

South Korean officials maintained, however, that the boat was outside of Japanese territorial waters.

The incident came to conclusion a day before Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara's scheduled visit to Seoul, the news agency said.

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