South Korea has publicly notified North Korea of its intention to repatriate a body believed to be that of a North Korean citizen through the truce village of Panmunjeom, after it was found in waters off Incheon’s Ganghwa area last month.

On Tuesday, unification ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam urged Pyongyang to promptly respond via the inter-Korean communication line, saying Seoul intends to return the body and the individual’s personal effects at 3 p.m. on August 5 in the spirit of humanitarianism and brotherhood.

The ministry issued the notice through local media outlets, since cross-border communication lines have been severed amid frayed ties.

An unnamed official at the ministry added that Pyongyang is aware of the situation, as Seoul has notified the regime several times through a channel at the United Nations Command.

The male body was found June 21 near the coast of Incheon’s Ganghwa area and taken to a nearby hospital.

If the North fails to respond by August 5, the body is expected to be cremated in accordance with the local government’s guidelines on funeral arrangements for those without family or friends.