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S. Korea to send rescued 5 N. Korean fishermen back home

June 17, 2015
Five North Koreans were rescued off the coast of Ulleung, a small island off the South Korean coast. (Yonhap)

Five North Koreans were rescued off the coast of Ulleung, a small island off the South Korean coast. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) — South Korea plans to return home five North Korean fishermen this week who have been rescued while drifting on a vessel in the East Sea, the Unification Ministry said Wednesday.

On Tuesday morning, South Korea’s Coast Guard rescued the North Koreans on a ship that was drifting near the eastern island of Ulleung. They headed back to the North after fixing a broken engine, but they were again rescued on Wednesday morning as they were found drifting in South Korean waters.

As the fishermen aboard the ship expressed their wish to return home, the Seoul government has decided to repatriate them to the North on Thursday, the ministry said in a press release.

“South Korea has sent a message to North Korea that the South will send them back home on Thursday on humanitarian grounds,” the statement said.

The ship had gone adrift from a North Korean port in South Hamkyong Province as its engine seemed to have broken down, it said.

Despite tensions, the two Koreas have a practice of repatriating civilians who accidentally land in each other’s territory.

The move marks the second time this year that South Korea has repatriated North Korean sailors found in the South’s waters.

In late February, the South returned home two North Korean fishermen who were drifting in the East Sea.

The move comes as North Korea sent back earlier in the day two South Koreans who allegedly sneaked into the communist nation last month during their trip to China.