31 North Koreans cross border with South by sea
Seoul - A fishing boat from North Korea with 31 people on board crossed the heavily patrolled border in the Yellow Sea into South Korean territory, South Korean media reported Monday, citing military and government officials.
The officials said they were not immediately clear on whether those aboard were fleeing the communist North for the South or whether they had simply drifted across the border unintentionally.
The 20 women and 11 men sailed across the border in fog Saturday near Yeonpyeong, an island 12 kilometres from the border that was the target of a North Korean artillery attack in November, which killed four South Koreans.
The military brought those aboard with their boat to the port of Inchon on South Korea's western coast, where they were questioned by intelligence and military officials.
The numbers of North Koreans fleeing their impoverished, totalitarian country for the South has risen dramatically in recent years, but few are successful in crossing by the inter-Korean land or sea borders. Most cross the border with China, where many of them wait for an opportunity to travel on to South Korea.
Tensions have surged between the two Koreas since the attack on Yeonpyeong. The two Koreas were scheduled to hold their first talks since the artillery bombardment Tuesday when military officials were due to meet.
The neighbouring countries remain technically at war after a ceasefire and not a peace treaty ended the 1950-53 Korean War. Read More ...
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