South Korea's unification ministry on Friday expressed regret that Pyongyang again failed to respond to Seoul's plan to repatriate five rescued North Korean fishermen. 
Seoul notified Pyongyang twice of its plan to send back the crew who were rescued in the East Sea from their boat earlier this week, Yonhap News Agency quoted the ministry as saying. 
The government said it contacted the North earlier in the day to arrange a handover. The crew's boat was abandoned because it was not repairable. 
The fishermen were found drifting on a boat that experienced serious engine problems, Jeong Joon-hee, the ministry spokesman, said. He said all of the North Korean crew expressed a desire to return home. 
North Korea's silence came as the country marked the two-day holiday of its former leader Kim Jong-il's birthday, which fell on Thursday. 
It is not known whether the holdup in the return of the crew is being affected by the recent murder of the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. 
South Korea has sent back fishermen who drifted into its waters in the past after making certain they did not wish to defect.

Source:  QNA