It is a nonsensical assertion for the south Korean authorities to say they will sent back 27 persons only with those four persons whom the south Korean authorities claimed expressed their intention to "defect" to the south left in south Korea and this can be followed by the discussion of the issue of confirming the four persons' "free will", the notice said, strongly demanding once again them let all 31 detained inhabitants of the DPRK return by their ship through the waters to which they had drifted.

The DPRK cannot recognize the "defection" of the four persons as claimed by the south Korean authorities, it held, stressing the need to confirm it through a face-to-face meeting without fail.

It suggested the south side to have the contact at the conference room of the former Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission at Panmunjom at 10:00 a.m. on March 9 to make a face-to-face confirmation of those concerned of both sides and their families and relatives, as already notified.

Considering that the south Korean authorities agreed with the contact in principle, it said that those concerned of the DPRK Red Cross will go to the venue together with families and the conference room of the former Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission in Panmunjom which both sides find convenient is appropriate for the venue of the contact.