Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said a maritime patrol plane spotted an unidentified vessel in waters off South Korea’s east coast on Sunday and dispatched a patrol vessel.
A statement issued by the JCS said that as the vessel approached, the crew of another vessel called for help, and South Korean sailors confirmed that it was a North Korean vessel.
The report added that Pyongyang crew members said they had been stranded for 10 days and expressed a desire to return home.
They asked for food and drinking water, which the statement said South Korea provided on humanitarian grounds.
“North Korea is also being notified through the United Nations Command and the International Maritime Communication Network to rescue the distressed North Korean ship,” the JCS said.
On Tuesday, a group of North Koreans entered South Korean waters in a wooden boat. It was believed to be a rare case of North Koreans taking the risk of crossing the sea to escape to the South.
The four North Koreans on board said they intended to stay in South Korea, Seoul’s Yonhap news agency reported, citing an unnamed government source.
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