2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

Asia Pacific> Asia News> Content
Monday, July 29, 2019, 17:22
ROK returns 3 DPRK crew who crossed sea border in boat
By Reuters
Monday, July 29, 2019, 17:22 By Reuters

This July 28, 2019, photo provided by the Republic of Korea's Defense Ministry, shows a boat from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea used by three DPRK crew members who crossed the Koreas' sea border, at a military port in Yangyang, ROK. Seoul's Unification Ministry said July 29, 2019 in a statement it decided to let the DPRK crew return home in line with their wishes. (ROK DEFENSE MINISTRY VIA AP)

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK) returned three crew members from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) who crossed the maritime border aboard a fishing vessel at the weekend, an official at Seoul's defence ministry said on Monday.

The DPRK fishing boats often breach the inter-Korean maritime frontier or go adrift towards the ROK.

ROK authorities intercepted the ship that crossed the border on Saturday because a white towel was tied to its mast in a potential sign that those on board might want to defect, the official said.

ALSO READ: ROK consults with DPRK on inter-Korean industrial zone

The sailors said during questioning they used the towel to prevent any clash with other ships and had gone off course by mistake and wanted to return home.

"We've concluded that there was no indication any of the three sailors had intended to infiltrate," the official said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The ROK military handed over the sailors and the ship to DPRK authorities at the sea border on Monday afternoon, the official said.

Earlier in the day, ROK's Unification Ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said it had notified Pyongyang that the crew members had willingly left a ROK port to return to the DPRK.

On Sunday, DPRK released a Russian fishing boat and 15 Russian and two ROK crew members who were held after being accused of violating entry regulations.

READ MORE: Seoul: DPRK released detained Russian fishing boat

Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !