[My translation]

http://www.futurekorea.co.kr/article/article_frame.asp?go=content§ion=ºÏÇÑÅëÀÏ&id=6533

N.Korean defectors¡¯ entry to S.Korea might get blocked?

The N.Korean defectors are missing near the border area between Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.

S.Korean government saying ¡°we have no plan to investigate¡±.

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A group of 6 N.Korean defectors and a Korean American pastor who Chosun Ilbo¡¯s reporting crew had accompanied last November have been still missing just as they were in the sight of success of their defection journey, and there¡¯s been no contact from them for about 20 days now, which needs urgently active help from neighboring countries as well as related organizations before it goes unresolved.

The Dec. 22 Chosung Ilbo news report says they crossed the Chinese border to Myanmar after lots of twists and turns on Dec.18 last year and their defection journey over 26 days seemed to end successfully.

However, after going into Myanmar they had to head for Laos and en route to Laos, they entered Golden Triangle on the route to that country. At that point, all communication was cut off.
The reason why they turned their steps towards Laos was simple. The S.Korean embassy turned down their ask for getting transported safely. Although they succeeded in entering Myanmar, it is several thousand kilometers between the border and the capital city of Yangon where the S.Korean mission is located. In addition, since the border area is controlled by rebel forces, it is impossible the defectors to pass through it on their own strength.
Responding to a group for N.Korean defectors, Peenanchu, the S.Korean embassy to Myanmar had taken 11 N.Korean defectors to its office from the border last summer.
The missing people got info that they could also get helped by the embassy and asked the S.Korean embassy to Myanmar for help several times. However this time their request was turned down. It means that the S.Korean government abruptly changed its attitude.

A S.Korean consular worker in Myanmar says on the phone ¡°We can¡¯t go and help them. It infringes the country¡¯s sovereignty. That act belongs to ¡®enticement¡±.
In his words, ¡®The country¡¯ seems to refer to N.Korea. The word ¡®enticement¡¯ is one used when, from N.Korea¡¯s viewpoint, referring to ¡®the act of guiding N.Korean defectors¡¯.

The Durihana Mission, devoted to helping N.Korean defectors, that supported Park says that they have lost contact with them after a phone conversation was interrupted on Jan 9.¡±

¡°The voice, from the backcountry, was barely audible. ¡°We¡¯ve entered Laos¡± was heard and then the phone call was cut off.¡±


After the phone call, the Durihana contacted a S.Korean activist in Laos and he rushed to the place, near the border, where the missing groups was to meet. However, even him, well acquainted with the place couldn¡¯t meet them. ¡°That area isn¡¯t that large. And the routes are also what I know very well. That place is one where you can easily find someone when you ask around. But they were not there.¡±

Since then, the local members of the missionary work, in Myanmar, searched again two times the area near the border. If they were caught by local police or Chinese security officers, you could find it through the local network of information. However, the missionary organization says they couldn¡¯t even a ¡®trace¡¯ of them.
It¡¯s been known that the US also makes every effort at investigation given that the Rev. Park Joon-jae is a US citizen and it officially asked the Myanmar government to search for them.

On the other hand, the S.Korean embassy to Myanmar says they had no plan to ask the Myanmar government to search for them.
The embassy says ¡°given that the missing person is American, there is no need for us to act. We are gathering only information.¡±
It means they don¡¯t care about the life of the missing N.Koreans.


The missing people are only known by name:

Park Joon-Jae (Korean American, 64), someone called Moses (male, 51), BooHung-ui (male, 16), his mother (female, 44), SunOk(female, 24), UnMi (female, 29), Misun (female, 25).


Experts familiar with the place says that disappearance in the Golden Triangle can be a cause of something horrible.


The S.Korean activist says ¡°if they were caught by Chinese security officers, it may be even assuring. That¡¯s because in that case you can get them out before being repatriated or their life is saved even when they get back to the North. However if other things happened to them, it may be more troublesome¡± adding ¡°first of all, it¡¯s impossible to escape the mountains and jungles there on foot. There are vipers and wild beasts over there. The climate is very cold to such an extent that you may need a fur lobe, which means there is a possibility that you may be utterly exhausted or froze to death.
In such a case as this defection group that include young women in a large part in particular, there is a possibility that they may be kidnapped by local rebels, drug trafficking gangs or ethnic minorities and become sex slaves or get killed. This area is also notorious for illegal trade of internal organs. It¡¯s possible a horrible result will be brought.¡±

A local Korean church says last year another group of 10 N.Korean defectors disappeared last month near the same place.
Some say that the S.Korean government is responsible for this dangerous situation where N.Koreans are wandering across South East Asia to such an extent that they might lose their life.
They say the S.Korean government should make efforts to ensure the safety of N.Koreans at least on their arrival in a third country after getting out of China.
If they pass through Vietnam, they don¡¯t have to go through at least jungles or rebel areas. However since the mass airlift of N.Korean defectors to S.Korea by the S.Korean government, the Vietnamese and Chinese governments have intensified search through border regions and now it¡¯s nearly impossible to cross the borders.
Concerning this, among human rights groups for N.Korean defectors there is much criticism ¡°it has only resulted in encouraging the Vietnamese government to hunt N.Korean defectors.¡±

http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk09000&num=1693
(my translation)

The Korean American pastor held in a rebel controlled area in Myanmar.

Yonhap news, citing info from an activist, reported on Jan 31 that the Korean American pastor, Jeffrey Park (Korean name-ParkJoonJae, 63) is held in a rebel-controlled area in Myanmar

It says the confirmed area where Rev. Park is held is one that has been occupied by the Myanmar¡¯s rebel forces and the Myanmar government acknowledged their authority over controlling the area through an agreement and the government authority doesn¡¯t reach there.

It quotes the activist on condition of anonymity as saying in an email message that ¡°The 6 N.Koreans including Rev.Park are safe but as their detention has been prolonged in poor surroundings they are in a condition of being worn out. Some plan is being pursued to get them safely to escape and then go to the US for seeking asylum¡±.


The Durihana Mission says that day ¡°We¡¯ve confirmed that they¡¯re held by the Myanmar rebel forces now. Given that we started negotiations, you should wait patiently until good results come out¡±.