SEOUL: An army sergeant from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) rescued at sea by the Republic of Korea (ROK) navy over the weekend will be sent back to the DPRK, officials said yesterday. The repatriation arrangements were made after the officer was cleared of spying, an ROK Defense Ministry official said.

The DPRK officer was plucked from a small boat that drifted on Sunday into ROK waters off the divided peninsula's western coast, officials said.

The DPRK officer reportedly told investigators he had been fishing when his boat strayed southward. The waters off the western coast are considered a rich crabbing area but the offshore border is in dispute.

During questioning, the soldier expressed the desire to be sent back home. He is to be repatriated today from the border village of Panmunjom, the UN Command said in a statement yesterday.

Reuters

(China Daily 12/02/2009 page11)