Three teenage North Korean escapees arrived in Seoul Thursday after having been detained in Laos for the past five months.

A diplomatic source says that the three arrived in good shape and are under protection.

The teens were arrested by Laotian police while trying to enter the Southeast Asian country in November. They received prison sentences and have been in jail since.

Whether they will settle in the South or head to the United States has yet to be confirmed. The Seoul government says it will respect their wishes.