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China-Japan-Koreas
Norks agree to partial repatriation of its nationals from S. Korea
2011-03-16
SEOUL -- North Korea agreed Tuesday to the repatriation of only 27 of its 31 nationals held in South Korea after their fishing boat drifted here last month, withdrawing its earlier demand that Seoul also send back four wishing to defect, officials said.
"Now that we've graciously agreed to solve this problem, you imperialist running-dog lackeys, how about some food?"
The agreement, expressed through the Red Cross channel of the two countries, ends the deadlock that has lasted since South Korea told North Korea more than a week ago that it would repatriate only 27 of the 31 North Koreans who came here on a wooden boat on Feb. 5.

Backing down on its demand that all 31 be returned in a single group, the North requested Tuesday that 27 be returned by sea, according to Unification Ministry officials here.

"The North Korean side requested that the 27 people first be returned in consideration of the feelings of the families waiting for them," the South Korea Red Cross said in a release.

The South, citing bad weather in the Yellow Sea through which they came, proposed instead returning them on Wednesday through a truce village straddling the countries, but the North insisted they be returned by sea as soon as weather improves, the officials said.

"If the North insists they be returned by sea, we will watch the weather situation at sea. If returned by sea, they will ride on the same boat they came here on," a ministry official said earlier, speaking on the customary condition of anonymity.
Posted by:Steve White

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