Seven N. Koreans sail to S. Korea in alleged defection bid

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Seven North Koreans have arrived in South Korea on a
small boat after crossing the Yellow Sea border in an alleged defection bid,
government sources said Tuesday.

The North Koreans were detected by Coast Guard officers Monday afternoon after
crossing the western maritime border into the South, the sources well-versed in
North Korean intelligence said, requesting anonymity.
The government was questioning the North Koreans over whether they intended to
defect or were simply drifting, the officials said.
"Questioning is under way," one of the officials said. "We're not at the stage
where we can say anything about them."
In September, a group of 11 North Koreans, consisting of two family units,
defected to South Korea after crossing the maritime border in the East Sea on a
small fishing boat.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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