South Korea says it will send home three North Koreans found in a fishing boat in the Yellow Sea in early December.

An official from the Unification Ministry in Seoul told reporters Friday that upon questioning, the three North Korean residents had no intention of defecting and that they are not suspected of being involved in any espionage activities.

They will be returned to North Korea at the Panmunjeom truce village on Friday.

The boat belonging to the three North Koreans was found floating in waters near the South’s Yeonpyeong Island along the inter-Korean maritime border.

Another North Korean, who was picked up December 25th while in waters off Baengnyeong Island near the Yellow Sea border, is still under questioning.