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FM express concerns on smuggling of North Koreans The Foreign Ministry expressed concern on Wednesday over the increasing number of North Koreans entering Thailand and criticised local and foreign nongovernmental organisations for supporting them.
The ministry's deputy spokesman Kittikhun Chartprasert said this support had increased the burden on Thai authorities.
He was speaking after police rounded up 59 North Koreans on Tuesday in Pathum Thani province. They were reportedly hoping to sneak into the South Korea Embassy in Bangkok to seek asylum and resettlement.
Police said they will hold the North Koreans for questioning before sending them to court to face charges of illegal entry - and probably deportation.
The group of 59 included 10 children under 13 years of age.
The dissidents said they had entered Thailand via China and Laos.
Kittikhun said Thailand had become a popular transit route for North Koreans who want asylum in a third country - usually South Korea.
"North Koreans are managing to slip into Thailand with support from a network of domestic and foreign NGOs," the spokesman said.
