His vessel, it turned out, had been captured by North Korea, and when the North Koreans released the crew, they kept Mr. Choi's father.
Japan returned the trawler to China and released the crew but detained the captain and threatened to prosecute him for obstructing officials from performing their duties after he rammed the patrol boats.
Somali pirates released 36 crew members and their Spanish fishing vessel, the Alakrana, on Tuesday, but the Spanish prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, declined to comment on reports that a ransom of nearly $3.5 million had been paid for the Alakrana and its crew.
Taking the two ships back to shore, they released the crew and passengers just as Morgan arrived with the main body of the army.
WASHINGTON — A crisis over the seizing of two American patrol boats in the Persian Gulf was averted Wednesday when Iran returned the craft and released their crews as Pentagon officials struggled to explain how the boats had ended up near a major Iranian naval base.
The agency report did not clarify whether or when North Korea would release the crew.
Tonight White House and State Department officials said President Jiang could accept today's statement and release the crew.
It did not clarify whether or when North Korea would release the crew, which South Korea has been requesting.
Tonight, a senior administration official, asked about China's demand today for an apology before releasing the crew, said: "There isn't a need for an apology.
The Chinese government went all out today to convince its people that it had won a moral victory in releasing the crew of an American spy plane after receiving what it billed as a contrite letter from the United States.
