A Short Message Service (SMS) delivery method and apparatus is provided for delivering an SMS message efficiently by selecting a network domain to attach to according to the service provided to a Mobile Station (MS) by the mobile operator network. An SMS delivery method of the present invention includes receiving, at a network node, an Attach/Routing Area Update (RAU) Request message including a parameter indicating an attach/update type and SMS-only service, and transmitting, when SMS in a Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) is supported at the core network node, to the mobile station an Attach Accept message including a parameter indicating that SMS in SGSN is supported. The SMS delivery method of the present invention is capable of delivering SMS message efficiently in the wireless communication system.