A North Korean defector who arrived in Jeju Island by air from China, has turned herself in, the police said Sunday.

The defector, surnamed Kim, 41, arrived at Jeju International Airport at 2:30 on Sunday from Bejing.

Kim passed through immigration with a fake Chinese passport.

After failing to get a visa to come to the South, she reportedly chose to come to Jeju, which has not required a visa from Chinese travelers since 2008.

An organization that supports North Korean defectors is said to have helped Kim, who reportedly stayed in China for more than 10 years after she defected from the North, in her flee to Jeju.

The National Intelligence Service, Korea’s top intelligence agency, is investigating how she obtained the fake passport and the reasons for her defection.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)