As previously reported by the Daily NK, North Korea unveiled footage of nine young
North Korean defectors who were forcibly repatriated from Laos, where they had been en route to Seoul in May of last year, sparking interest in what the
underlying intention might be.
It is likely seen as Pyongyang’s way of responding to mounting international criticism against
human rights conditions in the North, as it looks increasingly possible that
the U.N. Security Council will discuss the issue for the first time, following
the passing of a draft resolution on the matter.
Moreover, recent reports in the South suggested that some of the defectors had been either executed or sent to prison camps. Pyongyang seems set to use this footage of the young people in their daily lives to point out that the reports
are inaccurate.
Through its website
Uriminzokkiri TV, the North released footage (see above screen captures; Images: Uriminzokkiri) on December 7th of the four
youngest members of the group: Ri Kwang Hyok (male), Ryu Chol Ryong (male),
Jang Guk Hwa (female), and Ro Jong Yong (female), in a video series entitled “We have our mothers.”
It claimed, “Our
nine teenagers that were abducted by the South Korean puppets have returned
to the arms of the Republic. It has been already a year and seven months since
they returned to the happy life of learning what they want.” It also said the four are said to be studying at Kumsong No. 1
Middle School.
“Currently, Moon Chol, Jeong Kwang Yong,
Ryu Kwang Hyok, and Baek Kwang Hyok are studying at Yeongung Hyesan No. 1
Middle School, and Baek Yong Won (male) is attending arts school at Hamheung
University of Education, using his talent to its fullest,” it added.
However, the website did not release
footage of the four said to be studying at Yeongung Hyesan No. 1 Middle School, or of Baek Yong Won. Based on the fact that the clip released was
sub-headlined, “We are students of Kumsong Middle School
No.1” and was introduced as episode one, it appears the
rest of the group will enter the public eye in later episodes.
These young North Korean defectors, with
the aid of a South Korean missionary organization, managed to escape the country and
reside in China between three months to three years before
making the journey to Laos in an attempt to enter South Korea. However, the
group was apprehended during police patrols, which led to their forcible repatriation.
In the footage, there are images of the four
students attending Kumsong Middle School No.1 in class, as well as
their daily routines, evaluations from their teachers, and interviews.
“I’m proud that I’m here at a place that others cannot be even if they wanted to, and
I’ve received a lot of kindness,” one said on camera. “I would like to
become a good worker for our Marshal [Kim Jong Eun], and I can hold my head up
high with pride because I’m at a school that other
people cannot come to even if they wanted.”
The North even released pages from their
diaries, expressing remorse for past wrongdoings. “I
didn’t know what was bad, and I didn’t understand whether I was doing something good or bad. I will never
do bad things again and get lured into their trap.”
Other lines read, “I did not know what it means to be
grateful for your country, but it has looked after me and loved me like a
mother, so I would like to make up with this gratitude.”
Additionally, the website also published
photographs of the members visiting Mt. Myohyang and famous tourist sites
in Pyongyang last summer, while saying Kim Jong Eun is akin to a
mother, taking in children with no parents.
On December 1st, a
civic group in South Korea claimed in a media report that of the nine defectors,
two had been executed and the remaining seven sent sent to prison camps.
