The U.S. State Department unveiled a new private sponsorship program for refugees Thursday, potentially paving the way for U.S. citizens and residents to play a direct role in supporting the resettlement of refugees from around the world — including North Korea.

Hailing the launch of the new Welcome Corps, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the program seeks to mobilize at least 10,000 Americans this year to sponsor as many as 5,000 refugees approved under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).