South Korea returns six North Koreans stranded at sea this year

SEOUL, July 9 (Reuters) - South Korea returned six North Koreans home via eastern waters, a South Korean government official said on Wednesday.

Authorities in the South had found the six North Koreans earlier this year after their vessels had drifted south after they became stranded.

A North Korean patrol ship was standing by at a transfer point and the North Koreans had returned in one of their boats, according to the official.