SEOUL, July 12 (Reuters) - South Korea's unification ministry is asking North Korea for assistance in locating a missing seaman near the border of the two countries on the east coast, the ministry announced on Sunday.
The request was made through a text message sent to reporters, as there are no active communication channels with the North, according to the ministry responsible for inter-Korean relations. The message was directed to Pyongyang.
“On July 12, a navy seaman went missing during coast guard duty in the East Sea, and it appears there is a possibility he has drifted north across the Northern Limit Line,” the message stated, referring to the maritime border with North Korea.
“As our navy is currently searching for the missing person, we request cooperation for the search and return from a humanitarian perspective,” it continued.
The North Korean embassy in London has not yet responded to a Reuters request for comment.
Since taking office last year, the South Korean administration led by President Lee Jae Myung has been trying to reduce tensions with Pyongyang. However, its repeated attempts to initiate dialogue have been rejected by North Korea, which labeled South Korea as a “hostile nation” in 2024.