North Korean defectors who currently attend South Korean universities will be allowed to study and work in the U.S., according to the Dong-A-Ilbo.
The newspaper reported that the South Korean Unification Ministry picked five former North Koreans last April for the WEST (Work, English Study, and Travel) program and the students will leave for the States next month.
The WEST program, which was announced at the August 2008 summit between South Korea and the U.S., allows South Korean university students to visit the U.S. for language courses lasting up to five months, join internship programs for up to 12 months, and travel for one month.
The five defectors, however, will be allowed to stay the U.S. for six months — five for English study and one month for internships.
