The South Korean coast guard has rescued a North Korean cargo vessel after it was caught in net Monday off the coast of Busan.

South Korean commandos freed the ship and escorted it to a sea route headed for North Korea.

With 16 sailors aboard, the North Korean ship called for help as it drifted away from international waters after its propeller got tangled in the net.

Under a 2005 inter-Korean maritime accord, South Korea allows North Korean vessels to navigate South Korean waters on their way to the North.