South Korea's navy has rescued five North Korean fisherman who drifted for 27 days after their ship's engine failed and ended up in Southern waters, Yonhap news agency reported.

The five men were being treated for hypothermia and malnutrition, and would be allowed to return to the North if they so wished, Yonhap quoted a South Korean navy official as saying.

The fishing vessel left the far northeastern province of South Hamgyong on Nov. 13 and was spotted near the South's Ulleung island, about 160 km (100 miles) east of the peninsula.

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