Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed to repatriate a South Korean fisherman who entered the DPRK on board his boat without permission on Wednesday, South Korean Yonhap News Agency quoted government sources as reporting Saturday.

The message of the repatriation, signed by Chang Jae Eon, chief of the DPRK Red Cross, was delivered to Chairman of the South Korean National Red Cross Han Wan-sang, through liaison officers at the truce village of Panmunjeom earlier in the day, reported Yonhap.

The DPRK informed the South Korean government that it will return the fisherman, Hwang Hong-ryon, and his 3.9-ton ship to South Korea via the East Sea (Sea of Japan) at 3 p.m. (0600 GMT) next Monday, said Yonhap.

The 57-year-old Hwang, a resident of Sokcho in Gangwon Province,went to the DPRK by crossing the eastern part of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), a controversial inter-Korean sea border, on board his ship on Wednesday. Previously, South Korean military said investigation showed Hwang did this apparently under the influence of alcohol.

After the South Korean military coast guards failed to stop Hwang from crossing the sea border despite firing repeated warning shots, the South Korean government immediately demanded the DPRK to return him.

On Thursday, the DPRK confirmed Hwang's defection through a report dispatched by the DPRK's Korean Central News Agency.

Upon his return, Hwang is likely to face criminal punishment, said Yonhap. South Korean civilians cannot visit the DPRK without approval of South Korean government.

Source: Xinhua