The ultimate fate of two North Korean fishermen repatriated from the South last November remains uncertain, South Korea’s government told the United Nations in a letter made public Wednesday.

The note, sent by the South Korea’s Permanent Mission in Geneva dated February 28, sought to defend Seoul’s decision to deport the two North Koreans in response to concerns raised by United Nations human rights officials the previous month.

South Korea at the time of the unprecedented repatriation of the men— accused of the murder of their 16 crew mates –insisted their stated intention to defect was “not sincere.” The