Government Repatriates Six North Korean Residents from Drifting Wooden Boat After Confirming Their Intent to Return

The government repatriated a total of six North Korean residents who had drifted from North Korea on a wooden boat between March and May, sending them back to the East Sea on the morning of July 9, 2025. It has been reported that all of them expressed their intention to return to North Korea.

At around 9 a.m. on the 9th, six North Korean residents are returning to North Korea by a wooden boat in the East Sea. Ministry of Unification

An official from the Ministry of Unification met with reporters that day and said, "We repatriated all six North Korean residents with their full consent," adding, "At 8:56 a.m., the boat (wooden boat) carrying the North Korean residents crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL)." Among the six residents who returned to North Korea that day, two had been rescued in the West Sea in March, and the remaining four were rescued in the East Sea in May. All were male fishermen in their 30s and 40s. The vessel rescued in the West Sea was inoperable due to a malfunction, so they returned to North Korea on their own by boarding the vessel rescued in the East Sea together.

The government stated that it had notified the North in advance of its plan to repatriate the North Korean residents through the United Nations Command (UNC) channel on two separate occasions. During this process, the government and the UNC repeatedly confirmed the North Korean residents' voluntary intention to return. The official explained, "At the time of repatriation, a North Korean patrol boat and a larger vessel, presumed to be for towing, appeared at the transfer point. At 9:24 a.m., the wooden boat carrying the six residents met with the North Korean fishing vessel presumed to be for towing, but they proceeded to North Korea without being towed."

The Ministry of Unification official emphasized that this repatriation was conducted on 'humanitarian grounds,' stating, "We repeatedly confirmed the North Korean residents' voluntary intention to return and, in cooperation with relevant agencies, ensured their safety until the repatriation was completed."