Two North Korean defectors who were arrested in Mongolia last week while attempting to escape to the United States have arrived in Seoul.

A government official said Monday that the two, who had planned to seek political asylum in the United States, arrived in Seoul Friday.

Surnamed Jeong and Jang, the two escapees were arrested at a Mongolian airport carrying forged South Korean passports, but were later allowed to enter South Korea with the help of the Seoul government.

Jeong is reportedly a former employee at a medical clinic in a mining village in South Hamkyung Province, while Jang is purported to be the younger sister of an award-winning actress, Jang Sun-hee.