Intensive Search for the Body of the Official Killed by North Korea... 39 Naval Vessels and 6 Aircraft Deployed

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyungsoo] The Coast Guard has deployed a large-scale search force to find the body of a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official who was shot and killed by North Korea in the northern West Sea near Soyeonpyeongdo.

On the 27th, the Korea Coast Guard announced that it had deployed a total of 39 vessels, including 29 Coast Guard and Navy ships and 10 fishery guidance vessels, as well as 6 aircraft, in relation to the missing fishery guidance officer A (47) from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries West Sea Fishery Guidance Management Unit. The Coast Guard deployed 13 vessels, including four 500-ton ships, three 300-ton ships, and six small vessels, along with two aircraft, while the Navy deployed 16 ships and four aircraft. Ongjin County and others also mobilized 10 fishery guidance vessels for the search.

The scale was expanded compared to the previous day's search, which involved 36 vessels including 12 Coast Guard patrol ships, 16 Navy ships, and 8 fishery guidance vessels, as well as 5 aircraft.

The sea near Yeonpyeongdo is divided into eight zones for the search. The search area extends from the west of Yeonpyeongdo to the south of Socheongdo.

The Coast Guard is also conducting search operations considering the possibility that A’s body or belongings may have drifted south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea.