North Korea has released a video featuring
nine North Korean teenagers, who defected and were forcibly repatriated from Laos via China in May 2012, declaring that all are safe and living happy, productive lives back in their homeland.
The propaganda arm of North Korea’s
Committee for Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, “Uriminzokkiri TV”
released a video on December 7th, titled, “Life for 9 Teenagers after Returning
to the Warm Embrace of the Republic after Being Kidnapped by South Chosun
[Korean] Puppets.”
“After being kidnapped by the South Chosun
puppets, the nine young people have returned to their homeland, and in
accordance with their wishes, are free to learn; a year and seven months
have already passed since their lives started afresh,” the narration goes.
The video specifically made mention of each
individual’s name and offered detailed information on the activities and
whereabouts of each child.
“Moon Chol, Jeong Kwang Yong, Ryu Kwang
Hyok, and Baek Kwang Hyok are studying at Hero Hyesan Secondary School No. 1; Baek Yong Won is at Hamheung Teachers’ College in the arts department,
cultivating his talents to his heart’s content,” the film states. “The younger children, Ri Kwang Hyok, Ryu Chol Ryong , Jang Guk Hwa, and Ro Jong Yong, are studying at Kumsong Middle School No. 1.”
Closely following claims by a number of media sources that two of the nine children were executed, none of which have been verified, the video is thought to be an attempt by the North to refute such allegations.
