An official of the Seoul-based Durihana Missionary Foundation says that about ten North Korean escapees will likely go to the United States this month.

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

Cheon expected them to enter the U.S. as early as this month or early next month at the latest.

The reverend projected that 30 escapees would go to the U.S. by the end of August if Washington shows a positive attitude about accepting them.

Since enacting the 2004 North Korea Human Rights Act, Washington has accepted a total of 30 North Korean escapees over six occasions since granting asylum to six last May.