Over 30 North Korean defectors were recently arrested by Chinese public security personnel in Shenyang (Liaoning Province) and are likely to be repatriated to North Korea. In addition to this development, Daily NK has recently learned that Chinese officers have now arrested another 8 defectors.
“On November 30th, 8 North Korean defectors were arrested somewhere in Shenyang by Chinese public security officers. They join 30 other defectors who were arrested on November 25th. All are in danger of being repatriated to North Korea,” a source in China close to North Korean affairs told Daily NK.
According to the source, the apprehended defectors have been transferred to Dandong, a region directly across the Yalu River from North Korea’s Sinuiju City. Most defectors transferred to this region are interrogated before being placed in the custody of North Korea’s State Security Department (SSD). The source added that in most cases, defectors are transferred via Sinuiju customs to the SSD in North Pyongan Province.
“They likely decided to escape after the guard huts along the Tumen River were swept away by the floods in late August, and have been hiding in China since crossing the border,” a second source in China said, referring to the 8 defectors arrested on November 30.
“After the flood, a spate of defections occurred, but the authorities did not issue new crackdown orders for quite some time until after the September 9 nuclear test. This may have been because they didn’t want to make any public announcements that highlighted weaknesses along the border.”
The additional source also reported that North Korea’s SSD is now paying a cash reward to the Chinese police in exchange for the defectors. As a result, it is assumed that the Chinese authorities are on a higher state of alertness.
“It’s impossible to know for sure, but it seems that the Chinese officers were keeping tabs on individuals who were assisting the defectors. It’s believed that the whereabouts of one particular individual became known, leading to the capture of scores of escapees,” he explained.
When asked about the continuing stream of arrested defectors in the city of Shenyang, the source added that most defectors pass through Shenyang on their way to Laos or Vietnam, where it is possible to seek asylum in South Korea. The public security officers therefore seem to be making a concerted effort to identify defectors in the area.
“Shenyang is home to a North Korean consulate and workers representing various North Korean organizations. Considering the current state of affairs, more defectors will be seized if they are not careful,” he concluded.
