Seoul - A North Korean family of four managed to flee the Stalinist state's strongly-guarded sea border with South Korea in a wooden boat, news reports said Wednesday.

The refugees were picked up late Tuesday near the South Korean coastal town of Inchon, three hours after leaving the North Korean port of Haeju on the western coast, the official KBS radio station reported, quoting South Korean navy sources.

The family - a husband and wife, their son and daughter-in-law -said they wanted to stay in South Korea. The refugees were being questioned by army officials, the report said.

Every year, a number of North Koreans flee the communist state, driven by starvation or dissatisfaction with the regime. Most of them attempt to cross the country's border with China and then try to gain access to South Korea from there.

Attempts to cross the sea border between North and South Korea, on the other hand, are rare. (dpa)