They were adrift on icebergs, their way lost due to the unfavorable natural conditions after going gathering shellfish some days ago.

They anxiously waited for help in dense fog, enduring biting cold in January.

Their families and service personnel of the Korean People's Army, People's Security men and civilians in Jungsan County and South Phyongan Province lost no time to start a rescue operation. But they failed to spot the residents in a vast expanse of the sea.

At this critical time, the Workers' Party of Korea took a measure to rescue them. By an order for emergency sortie issued to a flying unit of the KPA, a helicopter flew on the morning of Jan. 14.

At the end of repeated circular flights, its pilots succeeded in finding out the residents adrift on the sea and rescued all of them.

The residents were in a state of shock, all their bodies frostbitten.

First-aid was given to them by surgeons of the KPA unit before being admitted to the Jungsan County People's Hospital.

They were completely restored to their senses thanks to warming, anti-shock, anti-infection treatment, a measure to improve their breathing, etc.