|
The number of North Korean refugees to the South is expected to exceed 3,000 for the first time in history this year. The Unification Ministry on Monday said 1,748 North Korean defectors made their way south in the first half of this year, up 42.1 percent from 1,230 a year ago. At this rate, the figure is expected to exceed 3,000 by the end of this year.
A mere 71 North Korean defectors came to the South in 1998, but numbers had broken the 1,000 mark by 2002 and exceeded 2,000 in 2006. The total as of the end of June stood at 13,996. The Unification Ministry said it reminded local governments and related authorities on Aug. 27-29 that personal information of North Korean defectors must not be leaked.Ħħ The reminder came in the wake of the arrest of Won Jeong-hwa (34), who is accused of spying on refugees for the North by posing as a defector.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
