[Exclusive] "Chinese Public Security, One-on-One Repatriation of Defectors"…Suspicions of Organized Involvement

"From Chinese Tourist Buses to Public Security Vans Mobilized"
China, Which Has Tolerated Forced Repatriation, Shows Signs of Organized Involvement
About 1,000 Remain, Including 475 at Jangchun Prison
"Persistent Problem Raising... Must Prevent Repeated Disasters"

On the 9th of this month, testimony emerged that during the 'large-scale forced repatriation' of North Korean defectors in China, the Chinese government provided transportation, and armed public security officers closely monitored and escorted the defectors all the way into North Korea. While the Chinese government has avoided publicly commenting on the forced repatriation, evidence has been uncovered indicating that their involvement went beyond merely handing over the defectors to North Korean authorities and that they were systematically involved in the repatriation operation.

According to testimonies from several sources familiar with the local situation on the 29th, about 500 North Korean defectors in China were repatriated, with around 60 individuals sent from Dandong to Sinuiju. Initially, it was believed that private trucks were used or that the North Korean State Security Department came to China to retrieve the defectors, but it has been confirmed that the Chinese side provided luxury tourist buses and public security vans to escort them to North Korea. Typically, a tourist bus is calculated to carry 40 people, but during this repatriation, public security officers rode 'one-on-one' with the defectors, carrying about 20 defectors per bus.

A source said, "Convoy vehicles were positioned at the front and rear of the vehicle procession, and vehicles carrying armed public security officers followed behind," adding, "The provision of transportation and the one-on-one marking by public security officers to escort the defectors to North Korea is evidence that China actively and systematically participated in the repatriation."

Earlier, through missionary organizations that have been conducting rescue activities for defectors, news emerged that China had suddenly repatriated hundreds of defectors on the 9th. The repatriation was carried out at five locations in the northeastern region, including Dandong, Hunchun, Duman, Hwaryong, and Jangbaek. Unlike in Dandong, in the northeastern region, due to rough roads, several vehicles including public security SUVs and so-called 'ppangcha (menbocha)' 15-seater vans were mobilized. Menbocha is a slang term derived from the Chinese shrimp toast 'menbosha,' meaning a vehicle shaped like bread (menbao).

In particular, information was obtained that the repatriation targets included 'families of South Korean prisoners of war.' Lee Young-hwan, former representative of the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), said, "While public security sometimes released other defectors in exchange for economic compensation, they reportedly prevented rescue attempts for these individuals (families of South Korean prisoners of war)," and evaluated, "This shows that North Korea accurately identifies information about South Korean prisoners of war and their descendants and shares this information with China."

About 1,000 Still Remain... "Small-scale Repatriations to Avoid Attention"

The number of repatriation targets remaining in China is estimated to be around 1,000, including 475 inmates held at Cheolbuk Prison in Jilin Province. Another source explained, "The majority of those imprisoned in Cheolbuk Prison are holders of North Korean passports," meaning they officially left North Korea with government permission. Many of these individuals are known to have been dispatched laborers or IT personnel (hackers), who were arrested after engaging in cyberattacks, drug trafficking, smuggling, and other crimes for foreign currency earning under North Korean authorities' orders.

The source added, "The Chinese government plans to directly punish the remaining individuals according to its own laws," and said, "These inmates are expected to be repatriated in small groups discreetly as they complete their sentences." The source continued, "Since the large-scale repatriation incident has already been exposed worldwide, China will likely avoid choices that increase its burden," but also explained, "There is information that public security continues to track and arrest defectors even after repatriation, so if the numbers accumulate, another large-scale repatriation cannot be ruled out."

Representative Lee Young-hwan said, "Based on testimonies collected from defectors who experienced repatriation, women were forced to repeatedly perform 'ppomppujil'?sitting down and standing up naked hundreds of times?and especially during interrogations, if attempts to go to South Korea were discovered, the punishment was severe," adding, "There have been cases of detention and torture, as well as exemplary executions to enforce obedience among other inmates." He urged, "If attention to this unprecedented large-scale repatriation incident fades after a brief period, the same disaster will repeat. Persistent raising of the issue is necessary."