50 fold increase in North Korean defectors to Thailand
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Yonhap News agency claims that the number of North Korean defectors to Thailand has jumped more than 50 times since 2004.
Radio Free Asia (RFA), citing a Thai newspaper, the Bangkok Post, said the number of North Koreans who illegally entered Thailand and were arrested soared from 46 in 2004 to 2,482 in 2010.
Thailand is a frequent destination for North Koreans escaping through China. North Koreans are not granted refugee status in Thailand, but after serving their prison sentences for illegal entry, they’re deported to South Korea.