An increasing number of North Koreans, some of which have turned up in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand, are trying to find their way into the United States or Europe by posing as recent defectors, despite the fact that they have lived for some time in South Korea with government support. About 30 out of 80 North Korean defectors who are currently in Bangkok applying for U.S. refugee status first defected to South Korea, and are covering up their time in South Korea in order to qualify for a U.S. visa. The U.S. government has become more careful in accepting North Korean refugees after the U.S. embassy in Bangkok was told of the situation.
Chosunilbo