On July 12, a crew member from a naval vessel on patrol in the northern East Sea went missing, prompting military authorities to initiate a search operation.
The Navy reported that a soldier was last seen around 50 kilometers east of Gojin while performing security duties. In response, Defense Minister An Gyu-baek directed that all efforts be made to locate the missing individual as quickly and safely as possible.
The missing soldier, identified as a private first class, was reportedly last seen by a duty officer patrolling the interior of the ship between midnight and 2 a.m. When the soldier did not report for duty at 8 a.m., the situation was recognized as a missing person case.
The incident has also been communicated to North Korea through international maritime communication channels accessible to both sides.
The Navy stated, "We are currently conducting a joint search with the coast guard, deploying ships and aircraft to locate the missing person. We are also coordinating with fishing boats and nearby commercial vessels to assist in the search efforts."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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