135 N. Korean defectors arrive in S. Korea during Q1
SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- A total of 135 North Korean defectors arrived in South Korea during the first quarter of this year, the unification ministry said Friday.
The figure marked a sharp drop from 229 North Korean defectors who resettled in the South during the same period a year earlier, according to the ministry. The total includes 39 males and 96 females.
Last year, 1,047 North Korean defectors came to South Korea, the lowest annual number in 18 years.
The annual number of North Korean defectors peaked in 2009 with 2,914. The figure has averaged around 1,000-1,500 since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un took power in late 2011.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
Number of peak concurrent viewers on BTS online event surpasses 2.7 mln: agency
-
BTS' 'Map of the Soul: 7' extends longest streak on Billboard 200 by K-pop group to 60 weeks
-
BTS hit 'Boy With Luv' breaks 1.2 bln YouTube views
-
Vaccine supply glitch threatening to take inoculation scheme off track
-
U.S. keeps S. Korea on list of countries to monitor for currency practices
-
Number of peak concurrent viewers on BTS online event surpasses 2.7 mln: agency
-
Drunk driver gets 8-yr prison term for hitting and killing Taiwanese student
-
Biden-Moon summit to highlight importance of U.S.-Korea relationship: Psaki
-
(LEAD) SHINee's Taemin to join military next month
-
BTS hit 'Boy With Luv' breaks 1.2 bln YouTube views
-
(2nd LD) New virus cases back to over 700, vaccination drive to ramp up
-
S. Korea considering various 'vaccine swap' options with U.S.
-
(3rd LD) 'Comfort women' lose lawsuit against Tokyo over wartime sexual slavery
-
(LEAD) U.S. keeps travel advisory on S. Korea at Level 2
-
New virus cases back to over 700; potential upsurge worrisome