The Ministry of Unification said it had returned two North Korean sailors to the North through the truce village of Panmunjeom on Tuesday morning.
   
The two were among five North Korean sailors who were rescued early this month off the coast of Ulleung Island in the East Sea. Following the rescue, only the two sailors expressed willingness to go back to North Korea.
   
It has not been confirmed if the five sailors’ families were among the North Koreans who were present at the handover as the North had previously announced.