ROK to return one DPRK sailor home among three

SEOUL - Republic of Korea (ROK)'s Unification Ministry said Monday that it will return one saved sailor from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to Pyongyang among three as the two asked for remaining in Seoul.

Three DPRK sailors adrift in waters near Ulleung Island, some 120 km east of the Korean Peninsula, were saved by the ROK naval ship on May 31, the ROK ministry said in a statement.

After an inquiry based on internal processes, two sailors of the three expressed their intention to defect to ROK, and the remaining one hoped to return back home, the ministry said.

The fishing boat, which the three DPRK people were sailing, decided to be scrapped after consultations with ship experts.

The DPRK sailor, who wants to come back home, will be sent to the North side at 11 am on Tuesday through the border village of Panmunjeom.