South Korea frees three Chinese fishermen

South Korea has freed three Chinese fishermen who were detained earlier this month after  their fishing boat collided with a South Korean patrol ship, South Korean coast guard officials said on Saturday.

The maritime clash, after which the fishermen were  detained and questioned for intentionally ramming the patrol  vessel in South Korean waters, caused a diplomatic row between China and South Korea.

"We advised the prosecutors to not indict these crew," coast guard official Roh Sang-gyu said.

One fisherman died and another was reported missing when  their boat was sunk after the collison.