Ministry of Unification: “Numerous North Korean Residents Deported from China…Exact Number of Defectors Unconfirmed”.
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The Ministry of Unification has confirmed that it appears to be true that a significant number of North Korean residents were recently deported from the three northeastern provinces of China.
According to a report by Yonhap News, Gu Byung-sam, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, announced this at a briefing on the 13th. He added, “We cannot precisely confirm who among them are defectors, patients, criminals, and how many of each category there are.”
Spokesperson Gu conveyed that the South Korean government regrets this situation and has strongly raised the issue with China, emphasizing our position.
Spokesperson Gu criticized, “The government maintains the position that defectors staying abroad should never be forcibly deported against their will. Forced deportation against one’s will violates the international norm of prohibiting forced repatriation.”
Spokesperson Gu stated that there is no information that can confirm the exact number of defectors currently detained in China.
Earlier, The Chosun Ilbo reported exclusively on the 11th about the news of the forced deportation of North Korean residents detained in China, based on information confirmed by local sources.
According to the report, it was conveyed that Chinese authorities forcibly deported approximately 600 defectors who were imprisoned in Jilin and Liaoning provinces in China on the night of the 9th.
Chinese security is reported to have suddenly deported the defectors between 6 and 8 p.m. on the 9th. It is reported that China used civilian trucks for this deportation of defectors.
A local source told The Chosun Ilbo, “They deported the defectors like a military operation immediately after the closing ceremony of the Hangzhou Asian Games.”
Another source also revealed, “Chinese authorities prepared the imprisoned defectors for transfer just a few hours before the deportation for security reasons. A defector who was imprisoned in Hunchun prison asked for help crying through local security to an acquaintance three hours before the deportation.”
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