A North Korean cargo vessel sank Tuesday off China's northeastern coast city of Dalian. Eight crew members have been rescued but 17 remain missing.

China's Xinhua News cited Chinese maritime officials who said that the three-thousand ton government freighter was heading to China with 29-hundred tons of ore.

Since the accident was reported Tuesday afternoon, Beijing's maritime authorities have continued to search for the missing crew members but strong winds and waves up to five meters high are said to be hampering the operation.