A North Korean defector arrived in the United States last month as a refugee, a US-based news agency said Wednesday.



Citing data provided by the State Department, the Voice of America reported that the woman in her 20s entered the country on Dec. 12 and settled in the western part of Arizona.



The latest case brought to 212 the total number of North Korea defectors seeking asylum in the US since 2006.





North Korean traffic police officer in Pyongyang (Yonhap)

They can attain refugee status in the US based on the North Korean Human Rights Act enacted in 2004.



The defectors can receive a certain amount of cash every month for six months, along with health insurance, food vouchers and other support aimed at helping their settlement.



They are also eligible to permanent residency after one year of living in the US. Five years later, they are able to apply for citizenship, the VOA said. (Yonhap)