It is well known that all of them demanded that they be sent back to the DPRK from the outset, it said, and went on:

It is sheer nonsense for the south Korean authorities to talk about "defection" and the like by four of them.

The unreasonable attitude of the south Korean authorities is touching off bitter anger among the people in the DPRK. The families and relatives of the inhabitants now under custody there are eagerly waiting for them to come back as early as possible.

The south Korean authorities are forcing the detained guiltless inhabitants to separate from their families by appeasement and pressure. It is preposterous for them to talk about the issue of "separated families".

The DPRK side will not remain a passive onlooker to this case but use every possible means to solve it.

If the south Korean authorities do not comply with the DPRK's just demand, it will seriously affect the north-south relations and the south side will be held wholly accountable for it.

The notice strongly demanded the south Korean authorities unconditionally and immediately send back all of them together with their ship through the waters to which they had drifted, properly understanding that the case is a crucial issue related to the inter-Korean relations.