GRAND FORTUNE 1

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Body of North Korean sailor repatriated

South Korea has repatriated the body of a North Korean crew member of the "Grand Fortune 1" in the afternoon of Apr 14 via Panmunjom. The sailor was found dead after the sinking of the cargo ship off the coast of Yeosu on Apr 4. The repatriation took place three days after North Korea confirmed the identity of the body. The South Korean government had recovered the body during the search operation on Apr 8 and had sent the photo of the body for identification to North Korea on Apr 11. The same afternoon North Korea confirmed through Panmunjom that the body was that of a North Korean sailor. South Korea has also informed North Korea on Apr 11 that it was terminating the search operation for the other 10 sailors still reported missing since the "Grand Fortune" sank on Apr 4 at 1:19 a.m. about 74 kilometers southeast of Yeosu after sending emergency signals. Three sailors resuced alive and two bodies were repatriated on Apr 6 via Panmunjom.

Castaways sent home

South Korea sent the three North Korean sailors who had survived the sinking of the "Grand Fortune 1" home on Apr 6. The ship sank in the international waters off the South’s southern island of Geomun on Apr 4. Two bodies were retrieved from the sea and returned to the North along with the three sailors across the border truce village of Panmunjom. Search operations involving the navy and coastal guard were still underway to find 11 missing sailors. Pyongyang on Apr 5 asked for cooperation from countries concerned in rescuing survivors and helping them to return home. The surviving crew told rescuers that the ship had suddenly listed sharply to one side. South Korea has a protocol of sending back North Korean fishing boats straying across the maritime border or those rescued from sea accidents, unless they seek to defect.

Cargo shift caused ship to sink

South Korean rescuers continued to search for 11 missing crew members of the "Grand Fortune 1" on Apr 4, 2014, at 1.30 a.m. about 80 miles south of Yeosu and some 74 kilometers south of Geomun Island with 20 vessels and six aircraft. High waves and strong wind hampered the search efforts. The three rescued men told investigators they escaped from the ship as it was tilting with its freight of iron ore which was bound from China to Chongjin being pushed to one side. A coastguard helicopter found one scastaway drifting in the sea about three hours after the distress call came. Two crew members were rescued later. Also Japan’s coastguard had been asked to join the SAR operation. Reports with photos and video: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/04/us-korea-north-ship-idUSBREA322BO20140404 http://www.firstpost.com/world/s-korea-saves-three-n-korea-sailors-from-cargo-ship-that-sank-1465585.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/10743724/Bodies-of-two-sailors-recovered-as-North-Korean-cargo-ship-goes-missing-off-South-Korean-coast.html http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/04/04/cargo-ship-distress-call-s-korea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgZVwCBwfKQ