Lee Joon-seok, the captain of the sunken South Korean ferry Sewol.(AP)
Seoul, South Korea:
South Korea says it will end underwater searches for the remaining missing people from April's ferry disaster.
Tuesday's announcement comes hours before a South Korea court is to issue verdicts on crew members charged with negligence and abandonment of passengers in the disaster.
About seven months after the ferry Sewol sank on a trip to a resort island, 295 bodies have been retrieved but nine people are still missing. Most of the dead were teenage students on a school trip.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Lee Ju-young told a televised news conference there is only a remote chance of finding the missing bodies. He says the searches will stop as of Tuesday.
Prosecutors have demanded a death penalty for the ship's captain and life sentences for three other crew members.
Tuesday's announcement comes hours before a South Korea court is to issue verdicts on crew members charged with negligence and abandonment of passengers in the disaster.
About seven months after the ferry Sewol sank on a trip to a resort island, 295 bodies have been retrieved but nine people are still missing. Most of the dead were teenage students on a school trip.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Lee Ju-young told a televised news conference there is only a remote chance of finding the missing bodies. He says the searches will stop as of Tuesday.
Prosecutors have demanded a death penalty for the ship's captain and life sentences for three other crew members.
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