No health issues for fishermen taken by Russia: Suga

January 16, 2020

Tokyo--The six Japanese men aboard a fishing boat seized recently by Russian authorities are not experiencing health problems, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Thursday.

"There are no issues with the six people' health condition as of now," Suga said at a press conference.

The boat, belonging to a fishery cooperative in the city of Nemuro in Hokkaido, northernmost Japan, was taken by Russian authorities while fishing for cod in waters off Russian-held northwestern Pacific islands claimed by Japan.

"We'll continue pushing the Russian side to return the crew and the boat swiftly from a humanitarian perspective," Suga added. Jiji Press