The body of Ko Song Chol was found on a South Korean island less than 6 miles from the two countries’ maritime border. Ko, 36, was from a North Korean county about 25 miles inland, according to his identification papers. South Korean officials didn’t say how he died.

Pyongyang did not respond to Seoul's plan to repatriate the remains of a North Korean national discovered on the southern side of the inter-Korean border.

South Korea's proposal to return a North Korean body was ignored by Pyongyang, hindering hopes for renewed inter-Korean dialogue.