(LEAD) 9 N. Korean defectors arrive in Seoul

(ATTN: UPDATES with arrival, quote in paras 4-5, RECASTS lead para, headline; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- A group of nine North Korean defectors who have been under protective custody in Japan for nearly three weeks arrived in Seoul on Tuesday by air, a foreign ministry official in Seoul said.
The North Koreans -- six adults and three children -- were found drifting aboard a small wooden boat off Japan's west coast on Sept. 13, in a rare sea defection from the North to Japan.
They have since been under investigation by Japanese authorities, who officially notified South Korea that the North Koreans want to reach Seoul.
"The North Korean defectors arrived at Incheon International Airport at around 11:50 a.m. today via a Korean Air flight," the official said on the condition of anonymity.
The official said they were immediately sent to a state-operated temporary base for defectors from the North.


South Korean officials have said their government will handle the issue from a humanitarian perspective and respect the defectors' free will.
kdh@yna.co.kr
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