An official of the Seoul-based Durihana Missionary Foundation says some 80 additional North Korean defectors will likely go to the United States in the first half of the year.

The Reverend Cheon Ki-won, a leader of the missionary group, told the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency on Friday that defectors currently staying in Southeast Asia and other countries could be granted asylum in the U.S., citing consultations nearing the final stage.

Cheon vowed his utmost to facilitate the process, saying that Washington remains positive about accepting additional North Korean defectors following its recent acceptance of 12 asylum seekers.

Cheon also said that some North Korean defectors in China and Southeast Asia insist on going to the U.S. instead of South Korea, adding that it takes more time to secure asylum status from Washington and complete legal procedures.