South Korea sent six North Koreans back across the rivals’ sea border on July 9 morning, months after they drifted south in wooden boats in March and May, EDnews reports, citing AP.

It came after months of failed efforts to contact North Korea to coordinate the repatriation of the six individuals, who officials say consistently expressed a desire to go back.

Despite the lack of communication, a North Korean patrol boat appeared at the handover point as the six individuals headed back aboard a repaired wooden boat, according to South Korea’s Unification Ministry.

What would have been a routine event in years past was complicated by the North’s decision to cut off communications with the South in recent years.

North Koreans have occasionally drifted south in wooden boats before, sometimes accidentally and sometimes with the intention of defecting. In most previous cases, the two Koreas coordinated to send those who wished to turn back across the land border.

South Korea twice informed the North of its intention to repatriate the North Koreans on Wednesday through the US-led United Nations Command, but received no response, the ministry said.