Six DPRK fishermen were rescued on Saturday after drifting at sea off the east coast and sent back to their country on Wednesday, Reuters reported, citing the South Korea's Unification Ministry.

They were found stranded at sea in two fishing vessels last weekend. One ship was severely damaged when it was discovered and was later scrapped. The fishermen were returned to the DPRK on the remaining vessel, a Unification Ministry official said.

The six expressed their desire to return to the DPRK. They were questioned by a team of officials about their wish to be repatriated, the ministry which handles ties with the DPRK said earlier this week.

The South Korean government tried to reach the DPRK through the liaison office on the border but didn't receive respond, the official said.

The rescue comes as South Korea's new government has pledged a more moderate approach to the DPRK including engagement and reopening a communication channel that has been severed amid tensions over Pyongyang's missile tests.

(Source: Reuters)