North Korea has demanded an apology and compensation, claiming a South Korean vessel rammed into a North Korean fishing boat and fled the scene in the East Sea.
 
The North's official Korean Central News Agency on Monday reported about the alleged crash last week.
 
It said five North Korean sailors on board the "Durubong 3" were injured, and the boat was damaged.
 
The news agency demanded that South Korean authorities thoroughly investigate the vessel and those involved, apologize and pay compensation for the damage.
 
Seoul's Unification Ministry said that an investigation is under way to shed light on the claim. The ministry is said to have confirmed that the boat accused of crashing into the North Korean fishing vessel is registered as South Korean.