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Belgium grants permanent residency to N. Korean defector
SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- Belgium Tuesday granted residency to a North Korean defector, bringing to nine the number of North Korean refugees who have been granted permanent residency in the European nation, a U.S.-based radio station reported Tuesday.
The North Korean arrived in Belgium in June from China where he had stayed since defecting from his communist homeland in 2001, and was given a permit to stay permanently, the Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported.
"He was recognized as a refugee long ago and now he will register as a resident in Brussels," Won Yong-seo, a Korean resident in Belgium who helped the North Korean's immigration process, was quoted as saying.
"With residency, (refugees) can travel overseas up to 29 days, with the exception of their homeland, and in his case, he can't travel to North Korea," Won added.
Two other North Korean defectors sought asylum in Belgium this year, but were both rejected, the RFA reported, noting Belgium began accepting North Korean refugees in 1993.
Tens of thousands of North Koreans are believed to be hiding in China, but China, the closest ally of North Korea, refuses to treat them as refugees, but only as economic migrants.
Beijing is criticized for regularly rounding up North Korean defectors in its country and sending them back to their communist homeland where they are said to face severe punishment, ranging from torture to public executions.
Over 10,000 North Koreans have found their way to South Korea since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War while some others have sought asylum in Belgium, Germany, the United States and other Western countries.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
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