SEOUL, July 13 — South Korea’s navy said today it had recovered the body of a sailor off the east coast, a day after the seaman disappeared near the de facto sea border between the two Koreas.
Authorities launched a large search involving 10 ships and aircraft after the sailor failed to report for duty yesterday morning while the vessel was on patrol near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border between the neighbours.
“A patrol boat participating in the search operation found the missing sailor at approximately 5.58am today (4.45pm Malaysia time yesterday), about 52 kilometres east of Geojin,” the South Korean navy said in a statement.
Seoul had asked North Korea yesterday to help search for the sailor after fears the individual might have drifted across the NLL.
“There have been no updates from North Korea,” Seoul’s Unification ministry told AFP today.
The navy said the body was transferred to another frigate, which was due to arrive later today at Donghae Naval Base on South Korea’s east coast.
Authorities said the circumstances surrounding the sailor’s disappearance and the cause of death would be investigated jointly by civilian police and military investigators.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry told AFP yesterday that the navy had requested “North Korea’s cooperation, on humanitarian grounds, in the search and the individual’s return”, after concerns the sailor might have drifted across the NLL.
The sailor holds the rank of seaman apprentice, Yonhap News Agency reported.
President Lee Jae Myung has sought to ease tensions with the nuclear-armed North by pursuing dialogue and confidence-building measures after years of strained relations.
Lee has taken a dovish approach to North Korea since taking office in June 2025, in stark contrast to his predecessor’s hawkish policy.
Pyongyang, however, has not responded to Seoul’s repeated overtures while deepening ties with Moscow. It recently hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in its capital for a summit. — AFP
South Korean navy recovers body of sailor missing near maritime border with North
