A North Korean ship and its eight crew, rescued last week by South Korea’s coast guard in the East Sea, is being sent back to the North this week.

The ship was drifting in waters near Ulleung Island last Friday due to an engine breakdown, when the Coast Guard salvaged the ship and all men aboard.

The Unification Ministry spokesman Lee Duk-haeng announced on Wednesday that since repairs on the ship have been completed, the government will repatriate the ship and the entire crew in line with their wishes to return home.

Lee said the Coast Guard will hand them over to the North at the Northern Limit Line in the East Sea at 9 a.m. Thursday.