Restrictions and controls over North Korea’s population of homeless children, or “kkotjebi,” have been stepped up, Daily NK has learned from multiple sources. The controls are being implemented to try and stop such homeless children from leaving North Korea, it is claimed, following the diplomatic problems caused by the recent repatriation of nine former kkotjebi from Laos.
A source from Chongjin in North Hamkyung Province reported to Daily NK earlier today, “Kkotjebi found wandering the streets and begging are picked up and given shelter by local people’s committees, and there are people who then deal with them. “Kkotjebi generally dislike North Korean ‘organizational life’ so they escape from these places; however, just at the moment Ministry of People’s Security (MPS) agents are going out to retrieve them as soon as they escape.”
Tracking down kkotjebi would not ordinarily be considered a priority for the security forces. Therefore, “It looks like this is less about protecting them and more about keeping them together to make sure they don’t defect,” the source went on. “Because there is not enough food around at this time of year, it has to be questionable whether kkotjebi camps are even able to provide much for them to eat.”
“Oversight of kkotjebi is being ramped up just as we are hearing about the return of those defectors trying to go from Laos to South Korea,” the source went on to point out. “There are also these lectures for them about how ‘even if you escape you will unquestionably be captured in just the same way, so don’t even think about it.’”
According to the source, ordinary people along the border with China have been surprised by the case of the nine young people returned from Laos primarily because it happened not in China, where it would have been a regular occurrence, but in Southeast Asia. As a result, concern over the increased reach of the North Korean authorities is leading those who might consider leaving to conclude, “Staying put is the best thing to do,” while those with family already in China are also worrying that their relatives may be captured and returned to North Korea.”
Meanwhile, a second source from Hyesan in Yangkang Province corroborated the news from Chongjin, reporting to Daily NK, “The MPS officers in charge of the market are checking for kkotjebi regularly now, around both the market itself and the square by the station.”
“Maybe that is why you don’t see any of them crossing the river to find food in Chinese villages these days,” she added.
