The body of a third North Korean crew member who perished
when a Mongolian-flagged freighter sank off the coast of Yeosu on the 4th
has been returned through the border village of Panmunjom.
“North Korea confirmed via the Panmunjom communication channel
on the 11th that the individual pictured in a photo sent by the
South was in fact one of the lost crew members,” a unification ministry
official told press today.
The body was recovered on the 8th during search
and rescue efforts by South Korean aviation and maritime authorities.
The North Korean-manned 4300 ton freighter had left Chongjin Port and was heading for China with a shipment of steel when it sank around 63 kilometers southeast of
Geomun Island near Yeosu.
Only three of the original 16-strong crew were able to rescued and an
additional two bodies were recovered from the scene. All were sent back to North Korea on the 6th.
