South Korea has repatriated on Thursday a North Korean vessel and fishermen rescued from the East Sea.
 
The vessel, which departed from Hongwon port in South Hamgyong Province, drifted near the eastern island of Ulleung due to a broken engine on Wednesday before being rescued by the South Korean Coast Guard.
 
All five fishermen have expressed their desire to return home.
 
The Ministry of Unification sent a message to the North Wednesday that it would return the vessel and the fishermen on humanitarian grounds.
 
Also on Wednesday, North Korea repatriated through the truce village of Panmunjom two South Koreans, who had illegally entered the North via China.
 
In February, South Korea returned two North Korean fishermen rescued from the East Sea.