A group of North Korean defectors has temporarily put on hold plans to establish a DPRK government-in-exile in the United States, a leading figure in the organization told NK News on Friday.

South Korean newspaper DongA Ilbo reported on Friday that the plans were to go ahead, and that heads of defector organizations in South Korea and defectors formerly of North Korea’s elite class would launch the refugee government early next year in Washington D.C.

North Korean defector Dr. An Chan-il, who was described as a leader of the movement in DongA’s report, confirmed to NK News that the report was true