2 More N. Korean Intruders Killed, Bringing Toll to 20

South Korean troops killed two more North Korean agents in gun battles, while a South Korean soldier hunting the infiltrators in mountainous terrain was also killed, the Defense Ministry said.

The deaths brought to 20 the number of North Korean intruders killed or found dead since their submarine was discovered marooned off the east coast of South Korea last week.

South Korean troops opened fire shortly after daybreak today when they spotted a North Korean infiltrator on a mountain slope, officials said. The intruder returned fire, killing one South Korean soldier.

The North Korean was killed after a 30-minute shootout, officials said. In was not immediately known if other North Koreans were involved.

The second North Korean was killed in a separate shootout Saturday, officials said.

Thousands of soldiers, assisted by helicopters and tracking dogs, continued the 5-day-old manhunt, believing another five North Koreans may still be at large.

On Saturday, two North Koreans disappeared into the mountains after shooting and killing a South Korean soldier who was pursuing them.

In the first two days of the search, 18 North Koreans who fled from the grounded spy submarine were killed or found dead, and one was captured.

Intelligence officials said the sub is believed to have been on a mission to land spies and saboteurs in the South.

But officials can’t explain some aspects of the bizarre infiltration, including the fact that 11 intruders were found together dead, all with gunshot wounds to the head, hours after the abandoned sub was discovered.