South Korea Family of Arrested North Korean Defectors Appeals for No Return to N.K.

Seven family members of 18 North Korean defectors to South Korea who were allegedly arrested in the Neimongu Autonomous Region on July 23, visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in central Seoul on July 31 to request protection for defectors from being sent back to North Korea.

A North Korean defector, identified only by his family name Cho, said, “Among the group of arrested defectors, there is only one blood relative left in the North.” and added, “Please protect those who were taken to a detention center in Tumen, China, from being sent back to the North.”

Another North Korean defector, identified as Chung, who met with a Foreign Ministry official, said, “As far as we know, Chinese authorities have completed their investigation into North Korean defectors. It is possible for those defectors to be sent back to the North next week at the earliest.”

Chung quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying, “We called the Chinese government for identification. However, in case that the Chinese government didn’t comply with this request, there were no good measures. We’ll try to appeal for mercy through diplomatic channels.”

Seung-Ryun Kim srkim@donga.com