NK fishermen rescued off Ulleung Island seek to defect, testing Lee administration
Some of the North Korean fishermen rescued off Ulleung Island reportedly want to defect, posing a test for President Lee Jae Myung’s administration as it seeks dialogue with Pyongyang. They were among the six fishermen aboard a boat that the Navy and Coast Guard found drifting in international waters north of the island on Nov. 3. Others reportedly wish to return to North Korea, with authorities…
Six North Korean fishermen rescued off Ulleung Island reportedly desire to defect, presenting a challenge for President Lee Jae Myung's administration as it aims to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang. They were among six individuals on a boat discovered drifting in international waters north of the island on November 3. Some of the fishermen reportedly yearn to return to North Korea, with authorities questioning each member to determine their ultimate preference.
If accepted, these fishermen would be the first to defect following a publicly reported rescue since Lee assumed office in June 2025. At a time when his government appears inclined towards a measured approach to avoid provoking Pyongyang and resume negotiations, the Ministry of Unification has not yet confirmed whether any of the fishermen expressed a desire to defect.
An official from the ministry stated that an investigation is currently underway and that they cannot disclose specific details at this stage. The JoongAng Ilbo reported on Tuesday that the government intends to complete its investigation on the matter.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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