South Korea on Thursday delayed the planned repatriation of 27 people from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) whose boat strayed into the South Korean waters early last month.

The government notified DPRK authorities earlier in the day that the repatriation would be unlikely Thursday due to a malfunction of the fishing boat planned to carry 27 DPRK nationals back home, according to the unification ministry in Seoul.

The unexpected delay comes a day after the two Koreas finally agreed to the repatriation on Thursday, ending a deadlock over returning four DPRK nationals who authorities here said expressed their wish to remain in the South.

Pyongyang has demanded all 31 be sent back, accusing Seoul of having forced the four people into defection in a plot against Pyongyang.