Some of the North Korean fishermen rescued off Ulleung Island reportedly want to defect, posing a test for President Lee Jae Myung’s administration as it seeks dialogue with Pyongyang. They were among the six fishermen aboard a boat that the Navy and Coast Guard found drifting in international waters north of the island on Nov. 3. Others reportedly wish to return to North Korea, with authorities questioning each crew member to establish their final wishes. They could become the first North Koreans to defect following a publicly reported rescue since Lee took office in June 2025, at a time when his government appears to favor a low-key approach to avoid provoking Pyongyang and resume talks. The Ministry of Unification declined Wednesday to confirm whether any of the fishermen had requested to defect, saying an investigation was underway. “We cannot disclose details at this stage,” a ministry official told reporters when asked about an exclusive JoongAng Ilbo report published Tuesday that first reported the defect requests. The newspaper wrote that the government plans to complete its