Number of N. Korean defectors to S. Korea tops 20,000
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South Korea says the number of North Koreans defecting to the South has surged in recent years because of economic suffering in the North, with more than 10,000 defections over the past three years.
The South Korean Unification Ministry said Monday that about as many North Koreans have defected to the South since 2007 than over the entire previous period since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice. The overall total stands now at 20,050. (AP)
