Friday, September 22, 2006

Two North Korean defectors enter U.S. consulate in China

Two North Korean defectors, who were staying at a South Korean consulate in China, climbed into a nearby U.S. diplomatic mission in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang to apparently seek asylum, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.

South Korean and U.S. officials have been discussing how to handle the case, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The two defectors, if sent to the U.S., would be the third group of North Korean asylum seekers accepted by Washington, since U.S. President George W. Bush signed the North Korean Human Rights Act in 2004.

In May, 3 North Korean defectors were allowed to go to the U.S. from China, shortly after 6 North Koreans staying in Southeast Asian countries were admitted to the U.S. with refugee status.

[Yonhap News]

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