Nineteen North Koreans were arrested by local police while crossing the Mekong River into Thailand on Friday, officials said.

The Thai police took the 11 women and 8 men into custody after the refugees were spotted leaving a boat on the bank of the Mekong River in Chiang Rai province and are currently undergoing questioning.

The refugees are said to have requested to be sent to a third country, most likely South Korea, and will be transferred to a temporary protective area in Bangkok.

The Mekong River often serves as an escape route for North Korean defectors, as the river connects China, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.