South Korean military said Thursday that a fishing boat from North Korea has been found in the East Sea and is currently under investigation.
The Korea Coast Guard and the military discovered the boat drifting in international waters north of Ulleungdo on Tuesday, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The military identified the boat and conducted a search and inspection with the coast guard.
The JCS said related agencies are now conducting a joint investigation on the boat. It did not reveal whether any crew aboard wished to defect or return to the North, or how big the boat was.
Last year, two North Korean vessels were picked up by South Korean authorities in the West Sea and the East Sea, in March and May, respectively. In both cases, the crew members had unintentionally crossed the Northern Limit Line — a de facto maritime demarcation line between the Koreas — and were sent back to North Korea in July, 2025, on their request.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
