The Ministry of Unification here said on Monday that it plans to send them back to the North as early as this week, as they have expressed their willingness to return to their country.
"They have expressed their strong desire to return to North Korea, so we decided to repatriate them promptly from a humanitarian perspective," said Koo Byung-sam, a spokesperson for the ministry.
In March, two North Koreans were rescued by South Korean coast guards after drifting across the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border with South Korea, followed about two months later by four more North Koreans rescued in the East Sea aboard a wooden boat.
Despite their wishes to return, their repatriation has been delayed because North Korea has ignored South Korea's repeated requests through the United Nations Command (UNC).
The ministry is reportedly considering sending them back using the boats they boarded, after making some repairs.
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