South Korean Patrol Boat Sinks Off Jeju Island

As security tightens for the upcoming G-20, there has been an accident.

A South Korean navy ship sank after colliding with a larger fishing boat, leaving one sailor dead and two missing, the military said Thursday.

The 150-ton navy vessel was returning to its base following a routine patrol mission Wednesday when it collided with a 270-ton South Korean fishing boat in waters northwest of the southern resort island of Jeju, a spokesman at the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The cause of the collision wasn't immediately known.

Twenty-eight navy sailors were rescued, but one of them died while being treated at a hospital on the island. Two others were missing, the spokesman said on condition of anonymity citing department policy.

Some of the injured sailors were being treated at a hospital, while others were to be sent back to their base, he said. Navy vessels and helicopters were searching for the missing crew.

The patrol boat is the 150-ton patrol ship Chamsuri, lead of the Chamsuri class patrol boats. Jeju Island is off the southern tip of South Korea, no where near North Korea.

The fishing boat is reported to have very little damage and no injuries, and the vessel has already returned to Jeju Island.

The South Korean Navy is having a very bad year.