정부 "북한 해외식당 종업원 이탈은 사실"
South Korea confirmed another group of defectors from a North Korean-run restaurant in China.... the second such case in less than two months.
Some experts say this recent defection case may also be a result of tougher UN sanctions against the communist state.
The attention now shifts to Seoul.
Connie Kim fills us in on how it plans to deal with this recurring issue, this time around.
South Korea has confirmed the latest news report that claimed a group of North Koreans working at a Chinese restaurant has defected.
"It is a fact that three North Koreans escaped from an overseas North Korean restaurant."
Seoul's confirmation comes after local media reported Monday that two or three North Koreans escaped from a North Korean restaurant in Shanghai.
The report said the defectors are women in their twenties and have been staying at an undisclosed East Asian nation since last week.
However, Seoul said it cannot confirm how many or where they escaped from considering the safety of the defectors and diplomatic relations with other nations.
This marks the second group defection in less than two months after 13 North Koreans defected from a Chinese restaurant in Ningbo.
Seoul at the time, said the decision to announce the defection as the mass defection was unprecedented considering UN sanctions on Pyongyang were in full swing.
Experts say this defection may also be a result of the strongest UN sanctions on the North to date.
"North Korea sanctions have been imposed since March, but I think it's too early to say if the defection will lead to overall change or the regime's collapse."
Many North Korea watchers say similar cases are likely to occur in the future, which puts the spotlight on Seoul and how it will deal with the issue.
"If defectors do make their way into South Korea, focus will be on whether Seoul opts to disclose any details following the government’s rare press briefing last month regarding the mass defection.
Connie Kim, Arirang News."
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