Soldier drifts off course

South Korea's Navy rescued a North Korean soldier who ended up in the South's waters while fishing and the man wants to be returned home, a report said.

The soldier was found in the waters off the Korean peninsula's west coast where the North and South Korean navies engaged in a brief but deadly gunbattle several weeks ago, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said.

He was questioned and cleared of possible espionage allegations.