A group of six North Korean defectors arrested in Laos have been released and are now in the process of coming to South Korea, Voice of America (VOA) has reported.

The group was reportedly assisted by a Chinese national in crossing the Chinese border into Laos before heading to South Korea through Thailand. On Thursday morning they were arrested by local police in northern Laos while waiting in a vehicle.

After receiving report of their arrest, the South Korean embassy in Laos confirmed the defectors’ condition before making contact with the Laos government and pushing for their release, VOA reported.