North Koreans in Czech Transit

Five North Koreans now sheltering in the Czech Republic are expected to learn in the coming days whether they will be allowed to immigrate as refugees to the United States, according to a senior Czech official.

The three North Korean men and two women arrived in Prague July 27. This is the first time the Czech Republic has granted temporary residence to North Koreans from China as they transit to third countries.

The Prague Daily Monitor quoted Interior Ministry spokeswoman Jana Malikova as saying that the North Koreans’ need for temporary asylum was grave.

"These people could not be granted any form of international protection. On the contrary, they were threatened with immediate expulsion to North Korea that is infamous for the totalitarian regime,” Malikova said.

[Radio Free Asia]