NATION : 4 Die in Korean Crash of U.S. Copter

A U.S. Marine helicopter crashed today in a rice paddy on the east coast during joint exercises with South Korean forces, killing all four crewmen aboard, the U.S. military said.

The CH-46 helicopter went down near Toksok-Ri while taking part in annual “Team Spirit” exercises, a U.S. military statement said. No one was reported injured on the ground. The identities of the dead crewmen were withheld pending notification of relatives.

The helicopter was assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., the statement said. The troop-transport helicopter had been operating from the Marine assault ship Belleau Wood.