North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong-un ‘plotting mass execution’ of returned defectors who fled to China express.co.uk

Image via express.co.uk

North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong-un is reportedly planning a mass execution of defectors who had fled to China but were then discovered and returned.

So far China has already returned about 50 refugees, including air force pilots, all of whom are facing the death penalty, the Express reports, citing US-backed news network Radio Free Asia.

All of the escapees will face the death penalty in North Korea, according to the report.

It has become increasingly difficult for those fleeing to China to move to a third country, which is why most refugees from North Korea are now being sent back into their own country, the report said.

Speaking at the time the insider, a Chinese citizen of Korean descent, said:

‘The Dandong customs office was opened just for today and they sent about 50 North Korean escapees back to North Korea on two buses.

‘This morning dozens of police officers lined up in front of the customs office to block public access and ensure nobody was filming the repatriation.

‘There are 50 men and women in total, including North Korean soldiers and pilots who served in the air force.

‘Among them is also a woman in her 30s who made heaps of money in Hebei province.

‘She was said to be very rich, but her neighbours ratted her out.’

There are many more North Korean citizens in Chinese custody who are also likely to be returned, according to the report.

Another source said Chinese onlookers had voiced their sympathy for the group.

They explained: ‘They said “If they leave, they will die. It is horrible that after escaping their country to survive, they are going to be executed young.”

‘The witnesses even showed hostility toward the police, who are essentially sending them off to die.’

The repatriations got the go-ahead after Pyongyang finally relented, having refused several requests by the Chinese authorities.

The second source explained, ‘Chinese authorities had planned to repatriate the escapees several times since April, but they were unable to because North Korea refused to accept them, citing coronavirus quarantine measures.

Among the first 50 are North Koreans who escaped after the coronavirus pandemic started, they explained, adding: “So it will be difficult for them to avoid severe punishment when they get back to North Korea.”

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