Some North Koreans are reportedly calling family members who have defected to China, asking them to reconsider their plans to enter South Korea, according to a source in the country. The reports may indicate that the Ministry of State Security (MSS) is trying to persuade defectors to return to North Korea, citing the improved inter-Korean relationship.
โThere are more North Koreans who are telling their children living in China that the political situation has improved so much that they donโt need to risk trying to get into South Korea,โ said a Ryanggang Province-based source on July 4. โTheyโre also suggesting to the defectors that they consider coming back to North Korea because of the peaceful atmosphere on the Peninsula.โ
The source added that a local resident known to him who has a daughter who defected to China three years ago had expressed relief that the inter-Korean relationship is improving and that โbecause peace is comingโ there was no longer a need to go to South Korea. ย
Such expressions of optimism seem to be related to expectations following the inter-Korean, US-North Korea, and Sino-North Korea summits that international sanctions will soon be lifted. Kim Jong Un has emphasized the countryโs new โtotal focus on economic developmentโ, and residents are subsequently hoping that improvements in living conditions are on the horizon. ย
Some could be telling their relatives abroad to avoid the dangers of going to South Korea and being โexposed to the continuous dangers of repatriation back to North Koreaโ because they believe the statements by North Korean authorities in the media, claiming that defectors who return to the country will be treated well. ย ย
Another possibility, however, is that the MSS is playing a role behind the scenes. The MSS has long visited the houses of families of defectors and placed pressure on them to entice relatives living in China or South Korea to return to North Korea.
โThe MSS likely believes that just dissuading people from going to South Korea is a success in itself,โ a source in North Hamgyong Province said, adding that “the logic that defectors can return because the threat of war is over is one that carries a lot of weight with people.โ
He noted that the general attitude of most defectors in China can be summed up by, โLetโs wait and see what happens.โ
Many defectors in China hope to one day return to their home country, he said, and “are anxious to free themselves from the terror of being forcibly repatriated back to North Korea.โ
