South Korea’s unification ministry said Friday that it is looking into reports that five North Koreans recently crossed the China-DPRK border, with two escaping Chinese authorities while two of those caught tested positive for COVID-19.

The ministry is aware of the reports and is “making efforts with relevant government departments” to verify the facts, deputy unification ministry spokesperson Cha Duk-chul said, while adding that the ministry has not yet obtained corroborating intelligence.

Cha reiterated the government’s position that South Korea has a legal responsibility to make “diplomatic efforts” to protect and aid North Korean defectors residing in foreign countries, stating