N. Koreans defect to South in Hong Kong, Malta

/Courtesy of Twitter

By Park Jae-hyuk

A North Korean defector has sought refuge at the South Korean consulate in Hong Kong, local newspapers reported Thursday.

The defector’s identity is unclear because the reports differed. Apple Daily said the defector is linked to the North Korean Army, while the South China Morning Post said he is a member of a North Korean delegation who attended an academic competition at a Hong Kong university two weeks ago.

The South Korean consulate has strengthened security after the reports, while an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment.

In a separate case, three North Korean workers in Malta defected to South Korea, according to Yonhap News Agency Thursday.

The report said two restaurant workers disappeared last summer and one construction worker went earlier this year, presumably to defect to South Korea.

Malta’s government deported about 20 North Korean workers last month after finding Pyongyang abused them by taking most of their pay. Malta is the first European Union nation to deport North Korean expat workers.