Key facts
- An auxiliary boat belonging to a North Korean merchant vessel sank.
- The sinking occurred in international waters about 200 kilometers off Pohang, South Korea.
- One crew member is missing, and three were rescued by the Japan Coast Guard.
- South Korea's Coast Guard is participating in search operations.
An auxiliary boat belonging to a North Korean merchant vessel sank in international waters between South Korea and Japan on Thursday, September 17, 2026, leaving one crewman missing while three others were rescued, Seoul authorities said. The South Korean Navy notified the East Regional Coast Guard Headquarters of the sinking at around 10:50 a.m., after the auxiliary craft went down in waters roughly 200 kilometers off the southeastern coastal city of Pohang. All four crew members aboard the ship had gone missing at first, but three of them were rescued by the Japan Coast Guard, according to South Korean authorities. The Korea Coast Guard has joined search-and-rescue operations to locate the missing crew member, based on international law and humanitarian principles, officials said.