A South Korean cargo ship sank in the waters off Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s eastcoast early Thursday, reported the South Korean Yonhap News Agency.

The accident took place on waters 160 miles northwest of Jojin in DPRK's Kangwon Province, the report said. Jojin is located some 250 kilometers northeast to Seoul.

Four of the ship's 18 crew members were rescued, the other 14 are missing. A search and rescue operation was underway, said Yonhap.

Source: Xinhua