Spokesman: South Korea rescues four North Koreans from sinking boats

From Jiyeon Lee, CNN

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The North Koreans were in two different boats that had drifted near the border
South Korea says it is investigating the issue
The incident is a departure from the tense struggles that have played out along the border

Seoul (CNN) -- The South Korean military rescued four North Koreans from two sinking boats in the west sea near the maritime border, a defense ministry spokesman said.

South Korea also refueled a North Korean fishing boat that drifted into its waters and returned it back North, the South spokesman said.

The four North Koreans who were adrift on the two boats were discovered two hours apart Thursday night. South Korean intelligence officials are investigating to determine whether they intentionally defected.

This incident is a departure from recent tensions between the two Koreas along the maritime border.

On Wednesday, South Korea fired back at North Korea after it said three shots from the North hit waters close to the maritime border.

No casualties were reported.

Tensions between the neighbors heightened last year after 50 South Koreans were killed in two separate incidents in the area.

In November, the South accused North Korea of shelling Yeonpyeong Island, near the border between the two sides. The incident killed two South Korean marines and two civilians.

North Korea said the shelling was in retaliation for the South's navy firing into Northern waters.

And in March 2010, South Korea accused the North of torpedoing and sinking one of its warships, killing 46 sailors.

North Korea denies attacking the warship Cheonan, though a Seoul-led international investigation found that a North Korean mini-submarine was responsible.