Attempt to float sub

SOUTH KOREAN navy frogmen began attaching air bags to a sunken North Korean submarine yesterday, hoping to raise the captured craft and look inside for any signs of life.

The small submarine sank a mile off shore on Tuesday while a South Korean frigate was towing it to the big east-coast naval base of Donghae.

Some defence ministry officials speculated that the crew might have escaped before their vessel was seized on Monday, half a mile south of the North Korean border. The incident has been played down by both sides.