Chance for quick release slim

Yang Xiyu, a senior expert on DPRK at the China Institute of International Studies, said there is little chance that the ROK ship will be released soon because Pyongyang will use the captured ship as a bargaining chip in negotiations amid current tensions in the peninsula.

"The ROK is to blame for the fishing boat going astray into the DPRK waters regardless of the reasons it has raised to explain," said Yang. "So the DPRK is at a favorable position at the negotiation table."

But Yang ruled out a worsening situation in the peninsula. "This is an accident. It is not a military provocation."