SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) demanded Wednesday?the Republic of Korea (ROK)?to repatriate two DPRK nationals who crossed the eastern sea border a day ago into ROK, an official said.

DPRK Red Cross officials said ROK should return them "on humanitarian grounds," according to unification ministry spokeswoman Park Soo-jin.

The two men are currently being questioned, and ROK will respect their "free will" in deciding whether to return them or let them defect to the South, Park added.

Separately, nine DPRK citizens found three weeks ago off the coast of Japan arrived in Seoul Tuesday for settlement.