The government has returned all six North Korean residents, who were rescued while drifting at sea, according to their own will.

Two residents rescued in the Yellow Sea returned after 124 days, while four rescued in the East Sea returned after 43 days. North Korea sent a patrol boat to wait in the East Sea to take them back.

"Returning after 124 days and 43 days… Respecting their will"

A Ministry of Unification official said on the morning of the 9th, "We have returned the six North Korean residents rescued in the East and Yellow Seas."

Previously, two residents were rescued by our military while drifting in the Yellow Sea on March 7, and four residents were rescued in the East Sea on May 27. It has been reported that they all expressed a strong desire to return to North Korea from the initial investigation.

According to a presidential office official, President Yoon Suk-yeol reportedly ordered a swift return on the 7th, saying, "If there are no issues with various verification results, it would be better to respect their will."

"Maritime return instead of the Panmunjom… Signs of some communication with North Korea"

The government stated that it chose maritime return instead of Panmunjom due to a lack of response from North Korea regarding the method of repatriation. The government has been communicating the maritime return policy through the United Nations Command, but North Korea has not provided a clear response.

However, the fact that a North Korean patrol boat was waiting in the East Sea that day raises the possibility that some communication may have taken place.

Image source: Non-related material photo / Hokkoku Shimbun, Chinese crab-fishing boats gathered near the Northern Limit Line (NLL). / News1