South Korea seeks North’s help to find missing seaman

South Korea’s unification ministry said it had asked North Korea for help finding a missing sailor near the two countries’ border on the east coast.

The request was sent via text message to South Korean journalists because there was no active line of communication with the North, according to the ministry responsible for inter-Korean affairs.

It was said to be directed to North Korea.

“On July 12, a Navy sailor disappeared while on coast guard duty in the Eastern Sea and appears likely to drift northward along the Northern Demarcation Line,” the message said, referring to the coastal border with North Korea.

“While our navy is currently searching for the missing person, we request humanitarian cooperation in the search and return.”

The North Korean embassy in London did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

President Lee Jae-myung’s South Korean administration has tried to ease tensions with North Korea since taking office last year, but its repeated overtures for dialogue have been rebuffed by the North, which has declared South Korea an “enemy country” in 2024.