450 North Korean Defectors Set to Enter South Korea Today and Tomorrow

450 North Korean Defectors Set to Enter South Korea Today and Tomorrow. July. 26, 2004 21:48. by Hyong-gwon Pu bookum90@donga.com.

It was reported on July 26 that about 450 North Korean defectors, who are staying in a southeastern Asian country, will be entering South Korea on July 27 and 28 on two charter flights, each with about 200 people.

It was also reported that all 450 people entering South Korea on July 27 could be a possibility if the conditions of the local airport and permission requests to pass through the territorial skies of countries the plane flies through work out well.

A diplomatic source in Seoul said, “Although there are suggestions that it is safer to bring all of them on a single plane, their chances of entering the country are better on two separate planes on two different days due to problems of local airport conditions and permission requests to fly through territorial skies.”

However, the government is reluctant to confirm any information, saying, “We can’t release any information, including the transport schedule, due to the related country’s request not to publicize it.”

The government has decided to keep the North Korean defectors away from the press, and not to hold any formal announcement or press interviews until the police and related agencies finish joint examinations.