South Korean authorities said Saturday that 21 North Koreans defected to the South after they were found drifting in a wooden boat in the Yellow Sea last Sunday.

South Korea's military said the boat was found drifting south of the Northern Limit Line, a disputed sea border between the two Koreas. The boat was floating among a group of Chinese fishing boats.

Maritime officials said the North Koreans, including women and children, stated their intention to defect and were taken to the nearby port of Incheon for questioning.

This is the fourth time this year that North Koreans have defected to the South by crossing the Yellow sea Border.