By Yi Whan-woo

Pyongyang has demanded a face-to-face interview with two North Korean fishermen who want to remain in South Korea, the Ministry of Unification said Tuesday.

The North also warned it would take measures against the South if the latter fails to accept this demand, according to the ministry.

"The North Korean Red Cross said in a written statement to bring the fishermen to Panmunjeom," the government said in a press release. Panmunjeom is a neutral village on the inter-Korean border.

"It said it needs to verify in person whether they had the will to defect to the South.

"It also said it would regard our move as abduction and take resolute action in response if we rejected its request," the ministry added.

The two males were among three North Korean fishermen men who were rescued by the South Korean coast guard, Saturday, after their boat ran adrift near Ulleung Island in the East Sea.

Pyongyang requested that the three and their boat be returned.

However, the Seoul government repatriated one of them to his communist homeland, Tuesday. It said it will keep the remaining two, saying "They showed a will to remain in the South and we'll respect their wish on humanitarian grounds."

It also said it scuttled the boat because it was "badly damaged."