Soldier missing near Donghae NLL; North Korea notified

Military authorities are searching for a sailor who went missing from a naval vessel operating near the Northern Limit Line in the East Sea.

Officials notified North Korea of the disappearance and the ongoing search.

The Navy said Sunday that a crew member went missing from a naval vessel conducting patrol operations about 50 kilometers east of Geojin in the East Sea.

"We are currently conducting a joint search with the Korea Coast Guard, deploying vessels and aircraft to locate the missing sailor," the Navy said, adding that fishing boats and nearby merchant ships in the area have also been alerted and asked to assist in the search.

The missing sailor is a private first class aboard a frigate.

He was last seen by an on-duty patrol officer in an interior corridor of the vessel between midnight and 2 a.m. Sunday.

His absence was discovered when he failed to report for duty at 8 a.m.

The Navy and coast guard have deployed more than 10 vessels and multiple aircraft in the search operation.

Officials notified North Korea of the disappearance and the search through international maritime communication channels accessible to the North.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek, upon receiving a report on the incident, ordered officials to do their utmost to rescue the missing sailor as quickly and safely as possible, and directed relevant agencies, including the coast guard, to maintain active coordination.