Two Korean nationals on board a Cambodian cargo ship are dead and missing after the vessel collided with a Panamanian-flagged ship in waters near China.

Five individuals, including one Korean, were killed, and two, including the Korean captain, are missing.

Local maritime authorities say the Cambodian-owned vessel, "Haijung" was carrying nine people when it sank after colliding with the Panamanian ship, "Jingfeng" at 1:47 a.m. Monday local time in the Bohai Sea near China's northeastern city of Dalian.

The bodies of a Korean and three Myanmarese were recovered. Another Myanmarese was rescued, but died shortly after his rescue.

A Chinese rescue team is searching the area for the missing Korean captain and an Indonesian sailor.