North Korea says it has sent the crew of the South Korean sand carrier that collided with a North Korean fishing boat earlier this week, back to the South.

North Korea’s state-run KCNA news agency said Thursday that it decided to take what it called a “brotherly” step and send back the South Korean crew.

Two North Korean fishermen died and the North’s vessel sank after the incident.

The report said the accident occurred after the captain of the South Korean ship dozed off and was therefore unable to see the North Korean boat.

In a letter to the South, the communist state said the South Korean ship and crew departed from the North’s Jangjeon Port on Wednesday.