SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Coast Guard said Thursday that nine North Koreans have arrived in South Korea after crossing the Yellow Sea aboard a boat from China in an apparent bid to seek asylum.

"The Coast Guard is investigating nine North Koreans who claimed to be refugees. They arrived late Thursday at the port of Gunsan after crossing the Yellow Sea (from China)," an official said. The port lies 274 kilometers southwest of Seoul.
It has not been confirmed whether they are family members or what kind of a boat they were on.