The tense standoff between South Korean and Japanese patrol boats continued for the second day Thursday in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) over a South Korean fishing boat accused of violating Japanese economic waters.(Xinhua/AFP photo)

(Xinhua/AFP photo)

(Xinhua/AFP photo)

    JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, June 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The tense standoff between South Korean and Japanese patrol boats continued for the second day Thursday in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) over a South Korean fishing boat accused of violating Japanese economic waters.

    Overnight negotiations between maritime authorities of the two countries failed to produce a breakthrough, reported South Korean Yonhap News Agency.

    One coast guard boat from each side remained lashed to the South Korean 77-ton eel-fishing "Sinpung-ho" about 16 miles off Ulsan port, some 400 kilometers southeast to Seoul, in the South Korean exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

    Thirteen patrol boats, six from South Korea and seven from Japan, were involved in the 30-hour confrontation, said Yonhap.

    Japan demands taking the custody of the fishing vessel and its crew members on charges of illegally operating in Japan's EEZ. South Korea contends it would investigate the charges, as the fishing boat was caught inside its economic waters.

    The unprecedented incident comes at a sensitive time when the two neighboring countries are preparing to hold a summit late this month in an effort to remend ties that have already been hurt seriously over territorial and history issues.

    Earlier Thursday, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said in a mini-cabinet meeting that the two sides should avoid "emotional confrontation," according to Roh's spokesman Kim Man-soo.

    Attending the meeting were South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, Maritime Affairs Minister Oh Geo-don and Coast Guard Chief Lee Seung-jae.

    "President Roh instructed related ministers to resolve the issue in a rational manner while respecting each other's sovereignty and understanding," the spokesman said.

    On Wednesday, Ban Ki-moon demanded that Japan withdraw its patrol boats from the area immediately, warning that the standoff can negatively affect relations between the two sides.

    Ban made the demand in a meeting with Japan's Senior Vice Foreign Minister Ichiro Aisawa.

    The confrontation developed from the wee hours of Wednesday after three Japanese patrol boats tried to seize the Sinpung-ho.

    After a brief scuffle, the trawler fled back to South Korea's EEZ. Four South Korean patrol boats rushed to the area and the standoff began around 2 a.m. Wednesday (1700 GMT Tuesday).   Enditem