A fishing boat with six North Koreans and three ethnic Korean Chinese nationals was found by the Korea Coast Guard in waters near the port city of Gunsan, North Jeolla province on Thursday evening.

The Korea Coast Guard and related agencies are currently investigating the identities of the North Koreans who claimed to be defectors.

The North Koreans include a couple with a seven-year old child and a mother with her two children.

The three Chinese nationals are expected to be repatriated to their country.

An official says that the North Koreans and Chinese nationals arrived in South Korea by crossing the Yellow Sea from China.

According to sources, a South Korean religious group provided a fishing boat for their maritime entry into the South Korean territory.