South Korea will return a North Korean ship and its five crew members to the North on Thursday following their rescue on Wednesday near Ulleung Island in the East Sea, according to the Ministry of Unification (MoU).

The MoU said that the vessel suffered engine failure and drifted into South Korean waters on Tuesday, left after repairs and then drifted into South Korean territory a second time on Wednesday following another apparent engine failure.

“Our navy found the ship near Ulleung Island on the morning of the 17th and rescued them,” local media reported the MoU as saying.

“South Korea has