The North Koreans who floated past the inter-Korean maritime border in February in a wooden fishing vessel will likely be repatriated soon, as repairs of their ship have been completed.

A Unification Ministry official said that the North Koreans will be returned soon, weather conditions permitting. He said the return will not be made on Thursday or Friday due to strong winds and high waves in the Yellow Sea.

It appears that the North Koreans and the ship will return to North Korea on Saturday at the earliest, but it cannot be ruled out that the repatriation will take place next week.

On February fifth, 31 North Koreans floated into South Korean waters. Four of them have expressed their wishes to defect.

The other 27 were to be returned to North Korea last week with their fishing vessel by crossing over the Northern Limit Line, the inter-Korean maritime border, near Yeonpyeong Island. The repatriation had been delayed due to a problem with the engine of the ship.