The Japanese government has decided to transfer four North Korean escapees over to an immigration facility in Ibaraki Prefecture after questioning.

The two parents and their two sons drifted into Japan’s Aomori Prefecture on Saturday on a small wooden boat and asked for asylum in South Korea.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Justice Ministry has authorized their arrival in Japan and will allow the defectors to stay for a maximum of six months in the country.

Since their arrival, the North Koreans have been in the custody of Japanese police and have undergone investigations as one of the sons was allegedly carrying a small amount of drugs.