Seoul, July 8 (IANS): South Korea will grant asylum to three North Koreans rescued from the sea, who requested to stay back in the country, the South Korean ministry of unification said on Wednesday.

Five North Koreans -- four fishermen and a farmer -- sailed past the border on Saturday towards south in the Sea of Japan, after losing control of their ship, apparently due to technical problems and were rescued by Seoul coast guards, Efe news agency reported.

When questioned, three of them wanted to stay back in South Korea while the other two asked to be sent back, a spokesperson from the ministry of unification told Efe.

The South Korean government notified North Korea through the Panmunjom telephone line, the only channel of civil communication between the two Koreas.

However, Kim Jong-un's regime demanded that Seoul repatriate all five North Koreans.

"From a humanitarian standpoint, we will respect the wishes of the three who have clearly expressed their intention to defect," the spokesperson said, adding the other two North Koreans will be sent back on Thursday.

This could lead to further conflict between the two countries as earlier North Korea has accused the South of kidnapping its citizens.

This is the second time in less than a month, a North Korean vessel drifted over to South Korean waters.

The earlier vessel's sailors had wanted to return home and were sent back by the South Korean government.