South Korea returns rescued North Korean fishermen

Seoul: South Korea on Thursday sent home five North Korean fishermen who were rescued as their boat drifted into southern waters off the east coast, officials said.

A South Korean coastguard ship repatriated the fishermen and their boat to North Korea across the sea border around 11:00 am (0200 GMT), the South`s unification ministry said.

The North Koreans were picked up on Tuesday when their boat was found drifting near the eastern island of Ulleung and were allowed to head back to their home port in South Hamgyong province after fixing a broken engine.

But they were found drifting again Wednesday near the island after further problems with the engine.

Ministry officials said the fishermen had been allowed to stay in their boat overnight in the sea, watched by South Korean coastguard officers, after investigators confirmed their wish to return home.

"They were allowed to stay in their boat" until the coastguard towed the vessel to the sea boundary for repatriation, a ministry official told AFP.

North Korea and South Korea have a disputed maritime boundary, and encroachment by North Korean fishing vessels into waters claimed by the South is quite common.

South Korea`s policy is to allow fishermen crossing into what it considers its waters to decide whether or not to return to the North.

In February, Seoul sent home two North Korean fishermen rescued off the east coast.

On Wednesday, North Korea repatriated two South Koreans in their 50s who were detained last month for illegally entering the communist state.

The two -- a 59-year-old man and a 51-year-old woman -- were reported missing while travelling in northeastern China near the border with North Korea.