"The government will review measures to be taken in consultation with the Thai government," Ban said in a press briefing. He stopped short of providing more information, staying in line with Seoul's traditionally cautious approach toward the sensitive issue. The Thai government said that all of the arrested defectors will be forced to leave the country. "We will prosecute them on illegal entry charges, then we will deport them. But since all of these people are seeking refugee status in third countries, we will detain them on a humanitarian basis until they can leave Thailand," Police Lt. Gen. Suwat Tumrongsiskul, chief of the Thai Immigration Bureau was quoted as saying by local media. But the Thai Embassy in Seoul refused to comment on the matter, saying an inquiry is under way. "The embassy is in the process of checking the news," said Bahvivarn Noraphallop, the embassy's first secretary for political affairs. "We are waiting for a response from headquarters." Diplomatic sources struck an upbeat note on the fate of the defectors, saying they will likely be airlifted to South Korea after going through a related process. North Korea may try to hamper it, however, they added. Thailand has grown popular among North Korean defectors as their temporary shelter before landing in South Korea, as Bangkok has been relatively lenient toward defectors in comparison with China and neighboring nations. Roughly 260 North Koreans including the arrested 175 people are staying in Thailand, according to the Thai Immigration Office and non-governmental organizations there. Seoul, Aug. 23 (Yonhap News)
