SEOUL, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- A South Korean navy ship sank off the country's east coast just after a maritime exercise, leaving four crewmen missing, military officials said Wednesday.
The ship, with a five-man crew, capsized and sank around midnight Tuesday during stormy weather, while returning to its base after conducting a routine exercise, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
One crewman was rescued, but four others were still missing as of Wednesday afternoon. "We are continuing a search for the four missing men," the statement said.
The "special training boat" for detecting and attacking North Korean spy boats can run underwater like a submarine, Navy officials said.
The accident occurred as the South Korean Navy was on alert in response to U.S. intelligence that North Korean submarines were suspected of operating off the country's east coast.
The South Korean military said it sent its P-3C patrol aircraft and anti-submarine LYNX helicopter to the area, but failed to locate the submarines.
