North Korean Defectors Sent Back to the Gulag
Seven North Korean defectors were sent back to North Korea by the Chinese government:
It was reported on October 10 that China repatriated all seven North Korean defectors who had entered an international Korean school in Yentai, China and demanded to be sent to South Korea.
It is first time ever that China repatriated North Korean refugees who entered an international school on its territory.
The South Korean government strongly protested the move and asked them not to let it happen again. As the issue appears to be related to the China’s North Korean defector policy in the future, chances are that it could lead to a diplomatic conflict between South Korea and China.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young even said he was shocked by this. Some how I don’t think he or the ruling government really care about any of the defectors. However, they did lodge a complaint with the Chinese government and recently China allowed eight separate defectors to go to South Korea. This makes me wonder if China did this more out of international condemnation than pressure from the Korean government. You be the judge.
