I wouldn’t want to be these guys right now:

North Korea says it has launched an investigation into the South Korean fishing boat that was towed to a North Korean port after straying across the maritime border in the East Sea.

The Unification Ministry in Seoul said North Korea notified Seoul through an inter-Korean maritime communication channel Thursday afternoon that four South Korean crewmembers who were aboard the ship were under investigation by relevant authorities.

The ministry said the North also responded positively to South Korea’s request for additional information on the situation.

Earlier in the day, the ministry sent a message to the North, asking for the quick release of the South Korean vessel and the crew.

The 29-ton “800 Yeonan” was seized by a North Korean patrol boat early Thursday morning while fishing for squid 32 kilometers northeast of Jejin on the east coast.

The ship’s captain radioed to the fishing communication center in Sokcho that the ship’s satellite navigation system was malfunctioning when it encountered a North Korean patrol boat. [KBS Global]

These guys could be set for an extended stay in North Korea if they start being accused of being spies.  So far I haven’t seen anything from the North Koreans saying that yet.