U.S. may acccept first North Korean refugee

This week may end the refugee odyssey of North Korean defector Ma Young-ae, who after settling briefly in South Korea defected again to the U.S. Ma is seeking asylum in the U.S. as a refugee from what she says is “political oppression” in South Korea.

A source close to North Korean human rights activists in Washington said Ma will have her final interview with U.S. authorities on the matter shortly. The source added her chances look “extremely good.”

The Chosun mentions that Ma is actually a double refugee:
Ma came to South Korea in 2000. In April 2004, she went to the U.S. for the events of a North Korea Freedom Day organized there, but the South Korean government revoked her passport because of her anti-North Korean activities abroad. In response, Ma applied for asylum in the U.S.