SEOUL - South Korea has rescued seven people aboard three fishing boats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and sent back three people so far, local media reported Friday.

Military authorities here rescued Thursday two small boats at risk of sinking in South Korean waters near the tense western sea border, and are currently questioning four DPRK nationals aboard the vessels, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Separately, three DPRK nationals aboard a wooden vessel that strayed across the maritime border into South Korean waters Thursday were soon sent back, the report said.

The disputed sea border, drawn by South Korea as the northern limit line which the DPRK does not acknowledge, has been the scene of several bloody skirmishes between the two Koreas.