Two North Korean vessels will pass through the Jeju Straits during the Chuseok holiday weekend.

Jeju maritime police said one boat carrying 20 crew that departed the North's port of Nampo Wednesday afternoon entered the straits late Friday morning and is expected to exit early Saturday afternoon.

A coal freighter also from Nampo will likely pass through between 10 a.m and midnight the same day in heading towards the North's northeastern port of Chongjin via the East Sea.

The Jeju coast guard has dispatched patrol ships for their safe passage.

On August 15th, two cargo ships became the first North Korean vessels to pass through the straits since the country's division.