South Korea has returned home seven North Koreans whose fishing boats drifted into South Korean waters across the tense Yellow Sea maritime border between their countries.

Three of them were found adrift after running out of fuel and allowed to return home early Friday after their boat was refueled by the South Koreans. The others were returned across the land border separating the two Koreas after being rescued Thursday when their vessels were sinking.

South Korean authorities say they determined that none of the seven North Koreans wanted to defect.

Tensions have been high along the maritime border area since a deadly North Korean artillery attack on a South Korean island last year.

The two Koreas are still technically at war, having signed only a truce to end the 1950-1953 Korean War.