South Korea seeks to return the body of a North Korean man who washed up dead on the west coast, Seoul announced on Tuesday, calling on Pyongyang to accept the remains and respond through inter-Korean hotlines.

“The ROK government discovered a body believed to be that of a resident from your side … and has placed it at a nearby hospital,” the unification ministry said in a statement addressed to the DPRK. 

“In the spirit of humanitarianism and fraternity, the South Korean government intends to transfer the body and belongings at 3 p.m. Aug. 5 through Panmunjom.”

The statement indicated