Over 1,000 North Koreans defect to South in 2018

By Zehra Ulucak

ANKARA (AA) – More than 1,000 North Koreans defected to South Korea between January to November this year, Seoul's news agency reported Tuesday.

Citing the Ministry of Unification, Yonhap reported that a total of 1,042 North Koreans defected to the South, compared to 1,045 last year.

According to the report, the number of North Korean defectors living in the South reached 32,381 at the end of November.

The report quoted an anonymous ministry official saying: “Since Chairman Kim Jong-un took office in 2012, around 1,000-1,500 North Koreans have defected to the South every year.”

After the division of Korea, some North Koreans defected to the South based on political, religious or ideological reasons. They are referred to as North Korean defectors.