Sinking of fishing boat kills 8 N. Koreans: N.K. media

SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Eight North Korean were killed when a fishing boat sank while netting fish in strong winds last month, the country's official news outlet said Friday.

The boat sank in the wee hours of March 9 during a fishing operation in the West Sea, North Korea's official ruling party newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, reported.

The accident killed all eight aboard, including the captain, it said.

Maritime authorities had ordered fishing boats to leave the area due to strong winds, but the ill-fated boat delayed retrieving its stow net because the crew wanted to catch more fish, the newspaper said.

Rescue vessels were sent to the site, but the boat was already lost when they arrived, it also said.

The report of the accident comes as the North Korea's labor force has been fully mobilized in what Pyongyang is calling "the 70-day campaign of loyalty" in the runup to the ruling Workers' Party of Korea's first congress in more than 30 years.

The accident appears to have occurred as North Koreans are being pushed hard to generate results ahead of the landmark party meeting.

Weather reports at the time of the accident showed strong gusts in the West Sea area.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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