North Korean Refugee Applies for Asylum in the US

A former North Korean refugee who escaped to South Korea is now once again trying to defect; this time to the United States:

This week may end the Odyssey of North Korean defector Ma Young-ae, who after settling briefly in South Korea defected again to the U.S. Ma is seeking asylum in the U.S. as a refugee from what she says is ?political oppression? in South Korea.A source close to North Korean human rights activists in Washington on Tuesday said Ma will have her final interview with U.S. authorities on the matter on Thursday. The source added her chances look ?extremely good.?

This could become a big political problem between Washington and Seoul if more and more North Korean defectors continue to seek asylum in the United States. To bad Hines Ward’s mom wasn’t a North Korean defector. Maybe then the South Korean government would bring more attention to assimilating North Koreans into South Korean society like President Roh is currently trying to do with mixed race Koreans.