ID :
189134
Fri, 06/17/2011 - 05:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/189134
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N. Koreans defected with careful planning
Nine North Koreans appeared to have made thorough preparations before defecting by sea to South Korea last weekend, a government source said Friday.
The family members -- three men, two women and four children -- crossed the tense western sea border on two small boats to reach South Korea on Saturday to seek refuge.
They made an overnight journey before reaching South Korean waters and expressed their wish to defect as they were being handed over to the South's military.
The men are ordinary laborers, not fishermen, according to the source, an indication that they made thorough preparations for their journey to the South.
Meanwhile, South Korea's Red Cross plans to send a message to its North Korean counterpart later in the day in response to the North's demand on Thursday that the defectors and their boats be returned.
South Korea is likely to repeat its long-standing policy that it will handle the case in accordance with the results of its investigation and free will of the defectors.
Seoul has said its policy is to accept any North Korean defectors who want to live in the South, and repatriate any North Koreans who stray into the South if they want to return.
The recent defections have become the latest irritant to relations with Pyongyang, which have worsened after the North's two deadly attacks on the South last year.
The North's Red Cross warned on Thursday that inter-Korean ties could be further damaged unless Seoul immediately repatriates the North Koreans.
South Korea is now home to more than 21,000 North Korean defectors and the flow of defectors continues amid chronic food shortages and harsh political oppression.
(END)
The family members -- three men, two women and four children -- crossed the tense western sea border on two small boats to reach South Korea on Saturday to seek refuge.
They made an overnight journey before reaching South Korean waters and expressed their wish to defect as they were being handed over to the South's military.
The men are ordinary laborers, not fishermen, according to the source, an indication that they made thorough preparations for their journey to the South.
Meanwhile, South Korea's Red Cross plans to send a message to its North Korean counterpart later in the day in response to the North's demand on Thursday that the defectors and their boats be returned.
South Korea is likely to repeat its long-standing policy that it will handle the case in accordance with the results of its investigation and free will of the defectors.
Seoul has said its policy is to accept any North Korean defectors who want to live in the South, and repatriate any North Koreans who stray into the South if they want to return.
The recent defections have become the latest irritant to relations with Pyongyang, which have worsened after the North's two deadly attacks on the South last year.
The North's Red Cross warned on Thursday that inter-Korean ties could be further damaged unless Seoul immediately repatriates the North Koreans.
South Korea is now home to more than 21,000 North Korean defectors and the flow of defectors continues amid chronic food shortages and harsh political oppression.
(END)
