Two N. Korean Refugees Arrested for Trying to Seek Political Asylum in the U.S.

It is reported that Jung Sung Il (35) and Jang Sun Young (42, female) were arrested in a third country while on a plane scheduled to depart for the U.S.

Chairman Kim Yong (59) of the U.S. North Korean Refugee Association, who revealed their political asylum plan, stated on Thursday (local time), “The two people got on a plane from a third country in Asia, but they were taken by the related authorities before the plane took off.”

He said, “The plan to leave for Los Angeles did not go through, but there is a possibility that they will go to Seoul since they have Korean passports.”

Regarding this matter, the Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry authorities stated, “We are looking into the matter for its credibility.”

The refugees arrived at Incheon International Airport on Friday at 4:00 p.m. (Korean time) and planned to depart for the Los Angeles International Airport where they would be asking for political asylum.

The two defectors received great attention as possibly becoming the very first refugees of the recent “North Korean Human Rights Bill” that passed through both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, awaiting only the president’s consent to be effective, but it seems that this will unlikely happen.

Young-Sik Kim spear@donga.com