SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) -South Korea's Navy is searching for a missing sailor who disappeared while serving aboard a frigate conducting a patrol mission near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East Sea, military officials said Sunday.
The missing sailor, a private first class, was reported missing after failing to report for duty at around 8 a.m., according to the Navy.
He was last seen between midnight and 2 a.m. by a watchstander conducting an internal security patrol through one of the ship's passageways while the frigate was operating about 50 kilometers east of Geojin, Goseong County, near the maritime border with North Korea.
The Navy has launched a joint search operation with the Korea Coast Guard, deploying around 10 naval and coast guard vessels along with multiple aircraft to scour the area.
Authorities have also requested assistance from nearby fishing boats and commercial vessels operating in the vicinity.
The Navy said it notified North Korea of the incident through international maritime communication channels that are accessible to the North, in line with maritime safety procedures.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back was briefed on the incident Sunday morning and instructed the military to make every effort to locate and rescue the missing sailor as quickly and safely as possible. He also ordered close coordination with the Coast Guard and other relevant agencies throughout the search operation.
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