Russian border guards kill North Korean fisherman after opening fire on vessel in Sea of Japan

Guards said they found 'illegally obtained aquatic bio-resources' on the boat

The FSB says the fishermen became aggressive (file photo) (Reuters)

One person has been killed and eight others injured after Russian border guards opened fire on the crew of a North Korean fishing vessel.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed the vessel, trawler Dae Yong No. 10, was encroaching in Russian waters in the Sea of Japan on Saturday.

During a search of the vessel, the FSB guards found "illegally obtained aquatic bio-resources" on board, a statement said.

The fishing crew then became aggressive, the FSB alleged, and the ship attempted to flee while it’s the crew tried to wrest weapons from the Russian guards.

A Russian coast guard ship fired at the trawler's propulsion system, disabling it, and on the North Korean crewmen.

Russia usually maintains amicable relations with North Korea and but the incident marks the severity with which Russian will guard its eastern border, as well in the west.

Fearing Nato encirclement, Russia has flexed its muscles on its western flank, most significantly by annexing Crimea in 2014.

But the move has left other eastern European nations fearful of Russian expansionism and sparked increased deployments by Nato amid increasing tensions.

Additional reporting by agencies