NK Defector, Goging to a Third Country Probably Today

The German embassy in China announced on 26th that a North Korean defector entered into the embassy, requesting for an asylum to South Korea.

A spokesperson of the German embassy in China announced that “a North Korea defector climbed over the wall into the embassy. The embassy is negotiating with the Chinese authority concerning the person under the custody. The German embassy revealed that defector is male. ”

A diplomatic source in Beijing said that the man is a civilian about 30 years old and had stayed in China for years after defecting from the North.

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson of Philippine announced that the Philippine government decided to allow the defector to go to the South via Manila.

A diplomatic source in Beijing said, “considering the issues of human rights and the Inter-Korean relationship, China may expel the defector to a third country. The Chinese authorities are closely communicating with the German embassy and the defector may be expelled to a third country on 27th or so.”

Meanwhile, the Korean government is also contacting with the Chinese and German government to grasp the situation. A government official said, “we will cooperate with the related countries, reflecting the hope of the defector.” The government delivered the position of the South to China and German that the defector must not be returned to the North against his own will.

ljhzip@donga.com