The group of 59 North Korean defectors arrested by Thai police after being found hiding in a safehouse in Bangkok will be allowed to go to South Korea.

“The North Koreans have been transferred to the immigration detention centre to be processed to go to South Korea if it is their wish,” said UNHCR spokeswomen Kitty McKinsey.

[. . .]

“They will be deported to a third country because normally North Korean defectors don’t want to go back to their home country,” said Suwat Thamrongsrisukul, Bangkok’s immigration police chief.

He did not give a date for the deportation of the 59 North Koreans.

Police Major General Praphan Panikom said on Wednesday that the migrants had been charged with illegal entry and sentenced to six months in prison, but said the court had ordered them to be handed over to immigration police instead.

Previous groups of North Korean defectors have received similar sentences, but they usually end up being accepted by South Korea rather than being sent home. (emphasis added)

The defectors can go to South Korea, “if it is their wish,” which leaves open the possibility that some will elect to try to come to the U.S. under the North Korean Human Rights Act:

Section 303 of the NKHRA provides that the Secretary of State shall “undertake to facilitate the submission of applications” by citizens of North Korea seeking protection as refugees. The procedures to consider a North Korean national for U.S. resettlement are the same as for nationals from other countries. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and U.S. Embassies and Consulates are encouraged to bring appropriate cases to our attention. Reputable non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can also raise cases with us. As with all refugee cases, host government concurrence is required before we can process a refugee on another country’s territory.

The decision to let them leave Thailand was made in September.