Body of boy found off Incheon likely North Korean, coast guard says

The body of a boy believed to be around 6 years old, found last month in waters off Incheon, is likely that of a North Korean, coast guard officials said Monday, citing a parasite found in the child's small intestine that is rarely seen in South Korea.

The Incheon Coast Guard found the body around noon on July 25 in waters near Jumun Island. It had decomposed significantly, was unclothed and had no fingerprints remaining, making identification difficult.

Forensic analysis by the National Forensic Service on the body confirmed the presence of a parasite, unlikely to be found in South Korea, in the boy's small intestine. The coast guard also checked the boy's information against domestic missing persons records through its missing persons profiling system, but found no match, concluding that the boy is likely a North Korean national. 

The body measured 110 to 120 centimeters (3 feet 7 inches to 3 feet 11 inches) in height, and the National Forensic Service estimated the child was around 6 years old and male. The coast guard said it found no signs of criminal involvement and plans to close the case following the necessary procedures.

Objects, including 16 land mines, believed to have drifted from North Korea, have been discovered in 14 different incidents recently along the coast of Ganghwa County's border-adjacent areas from July 23 to Aug. 10. 

BY PARK JONG-SUH [[email protected]]