North Korean refugees seek asylum at S.Korean consulate in Vladivostok Russia

Two North Koreans in Russia have sought asylum at the South Korean consulate in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok.

The former lumberjacks climbed over the fence of the South Korean mission in Vladivostok, said Rev. Peter Chung, head of the Seoul-based human rights group Justice for North Korea. Chung said that the two demanded to be sent to the United States, saying he knew about their plans through a member of his group in Russia.

The North Koreans, both 46, toiled as day laborers by moving around Siberia, Chung said. They later became Christians, Chung added. They decided to seek asylum now because they feared their religious activities would be exposed by two fellow North Korean loggers who were repatriated to the North in January, Chung said.