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3 North Korean Sailors Defect to South After Ship Strays 3 North Korean Sailors Defect to South After Ship Strays
(about 1 hour later)
SEOUL, South Korea — Three North Korean sailors have defected to South Korea after their ship strayed in South Korean waters over the weekend, the government here said on Tuesday. SEOUL, South Korea — Three North Korean sailors have defected to South Korea after their ship strayed into the South’s waters over the weekend, the government here said on Tuesday.
A North Korean ship with five sailors on board was found adrift on Saturday in waters near Ulleungdo, an island off the northeast coast of South Korea, the Unification Ministry in the South said in a news release. Their ship was sinking when the South Korean Coast Guard came to their rescue, the statement said.A North Korean ship with five sailors on board was found adrift on Saturday in waters near Ulleungdo, an island off the northeast coast of South Korea, the Unification Ministry in the South said in a news release. Their ship was sinking when the South Korean Coast Guard came to their rescue, the statement said.
Three of the five sailors told South Korean officials that they wanted to defect while the remaining expressed wishes to return home, the ministry said. Three of the five sailors told South Korean officials that they wanted to defect, the ministry said, while the others expressed wishes to return home.
The South told the North on Monday that it would send the two home on Tuesday through Panmunjom, a village along the border that serves as a contact point between the two nations.The South told the North on Monday that it would send the two home on Tuesday through Panmunjom, a village along the border that serves as a contact point between the two nations.
“The North demanded that all five be returned,” the ministry said. “But our Red Cross told the North that from a humanitarian standpoint we will respect the wishes of the three who have clearly expressed their intention to defect. We again told the North that we would repatriate the other two.”“The North demanded that all five be returned,” the ministry said. “But our Red Cross told the North that from a humanitarian standpoint we will respect the wishes of the three who have clearly expressed their intention to defect. We again told the North that we would repatriate the other two.”
North Korean fishing boats occasionally drift into South Korean waters after developing engine trouble, and South Korea returns the sailors home unless they want to defect. North Korean fishing boats occasionally drift into the South’s waters after developing engine trouble, and South Korea returns the sailors home unless they want to defect.
When such sailors have chosen to stay in the South, the North has accused South Korea of holding them against their will. South Korea has also accused the North of holding hundreds of South Korean fishermen against their will after their ships strayed into or were abducted in North Korean waters in the decades after the 1950-53 Korean War. When such sailors have chosen to stay in the South, the North has accused South Korea of holding them against their will. South Korea has also accused the North of holding hundreds of fishermen from the South against their will after their ships strayed into or were taken in North Korean waters in the decades after the 1950-53 Korean War.
More than 28,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea since famine hit their isolated and impoverished country in the late 1990s. Nearly all of them traveled through China. But some have defected through the heavily guarded land or maritime borders between the North and South. More than 28,000 North Koreans have fled to the South since famine hit their isolated and impoverished country in the late 1990s. Nearly all of them traveled through China. But some have defected through the heavily guarded land or maritime borders between the Koreas.
In June last year, a North Korean fisherman defected to the South after his boat was found adrift in South Korean waters. Last month, a North Korean soldier defected after walking across the Demilitarized Zone, the border that is guarded by checkpoints, minefields and tall fences with barbed wire.In June last year, a North Korean fisherman defected to the South after his boat was found adrift in South Korean waters. Last month, a North Korean soldier defected after walking across the Demilitarized Zone, the border that is guarded by checkpoints, minefields and tall fences with barbed wire.