The U.S. government has for the first time issued a green card to a North Korean escapee that entered the U.S. through China.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under the Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday that it granted permanent resident status to 34-year-old Choi Mi-kyung, who entered the U.S. in December 2007 after escaping the North and temporarily residing in China.

Choi is the first North Korean escapee that has entered the U.S. through China to receive permanent residence status.

Choi’s lawyer said the fact that the U.S. granted permanent residency to a North Korean escapee who had once resided in China demonstrates that the North Korean Human Rights Act is being implemented more effectively.