Two North Korean Refugees to Request Political Asylum in the U.S.

Chairman Kim Yong of the U.S.A. North Korean Refugee Association reported on October 13 that two North Korean refugees entered the United States via Los Angeles International Airport, requesting political asylum.

Chairman Kim announced that Jung Sung-il (35) and Jang Sun-young (42) escaped from North Korea last August or September and stayed in China for a short period. The two refugees who entered the United States will request asylum from the U.S. Federal Immigrations Office.

A recent North Korean Human Rights Bill that passed through both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate awaits only the president’s consent to be effective, and the two refugees may become the first case to which this bill will apply. Therefore, the media is showing much attention over their future.

Mrs. Jang, who entered the United States through Japan, is the wife of a prominent North Korean Trade Company official and is reported to have much information on Kim Jong-il’s family tree. She is also the sister of Jang Sun-hee, who was a North Korean movie star who appeared in many of Shin Sang-ok’s (the South Korean film director who was kidnapped to North Korea) films.

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