Japanese media reported that a South Korean fishing boat sank in waters off southern Japan, leaving two South Korean sailors missing.

A fire broke out on the "2006 Nam Seong" at around 3:20 a.m. on Tuesday in waters about 250 kilometers off of Minamisatsuma City of Kagoshima Prefecture.

The Japanese Coast Guard rescued eight of ten South Korean and Vietnamese crew members.

The Japanese patrol ships launched rescue operations after the fishing boat was found by a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft.