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February 17, 2007
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The defectors who arrived yesterday morning brought the figure to 10,006, the ministry said. Only 607 North Koreas had escaped their communist homeland and arrived in South between the Korean War and 1989, when food shortages began to plague the country. The number has grown the most in recent years. In 2002, 1,139 came to the South, and 2,019 came here last year alone, the largest annual number ever. On the same day yesterday, North Koreans celebrated the 65th birthday of their leader, Kim Jong-il. Leading organizations throughout the country issued a joint congratulatory message. “All of the People’s Army soldiers and the people will maintain war preparedness to the fullest to deal with the U.S. imperialists’ aggressive maneuvers,” the North’s Korean Central News Agency quoted the letter as saying. The leadership gathered on Thursday and gave their allegiance to Mr. Kim while vowing to fight against the United States. Mr. Kim’s birthday is one of the major celebration days in the reclusive communist country. By Ser Myo-ja Staff Writer [myoja@joongang.co.kr] |
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