Seoul's Unification Ministry said Thursday it will permit two North Korean sailors recently rescued in the East Sea to remain in the South.

A ministry official says the two decided to defect of their own free will, and that permitting them to stay is in line with humanitarian principles and past practices.

South Korea plans to return two other North Koreans who wish to repatriate via the Northern Limit Line sea border Friday morning.

The four sailors were rescued from two drifting boats on June second and third.