South Korea’s coast guard rescued a North Korean ship carrying eight crew in the East Sea last week.

The Unification Ministry said on Monday that the ship was drifting in waters 48 kilometers northeast of Ulleung Island in the East Sea due to an engine breakdown, when the Coast Guard salvaged it at 12:45 p.m. on Friday.

The ministry said all eight men aboard expressed their wishes to return to North Korea.

Their ship is currently being fixed and the ministry said it will inform the North of the plan to return the entire crew after repairs are complete.

So far this year, South Korea has rescued drifting North Korean ships on five occasions with 13 of 15 rescued crew sent back to the North and two allowed stay in South Korea according to their wishes.

Early this month, two North Korean ships carrying one sailor and three crew members, respectively, were rescued in the East Sea. Two of the four rescued North Koreans defected to the South, while the other two were sent back home.

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