South Korean police stop defector on stolen bus crossing back to North Korea

[Craig Nigrelli]

SOUTH KOREAN POLICE DETAINED A NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR WHO ATTEMPTED TO CROSS THE BORDER BACK TO THE NORTH ON A STOLEN BUS. THE MAN, IN HIS 30S, STOLE THE BUS EARLY TUESDAY FROM A GARAGE IN THE NORTHERN CITY OF PAJU, THEN CRASHED IT INTO A BARRICADE ON THE UNIFICATION BRIDGE, IGNORING SOLDIERS’ ORDERS TO STOP.

SECURITY FOOTAGE SHOWS THE MAN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER SEVERAL VEHICLES BEFORE TAKING THE BUS, AND OFFICIALS CONFIRMED HE WAS NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.

ACCORDING TO POLICE, THE MAN DEFECTED FROM NORTH KOREA MORE THAN A DECADE AGO AND HAD STRUGGLED TO SETTLE IN SOUTH KOREA. HE WORKED AS A DAY LABORER AND HAD ACCUMULATED UNPAID FINES. HE TOLD AUTHORITIES THAT HE WANTED TO RETURN TO THE NORTH AFTER EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES IN THE SOUTH AND MISSING HIS FAMILY.

MORE THAN 34,000 NORTH KOREANS HAVE DEFECTED TO THE SOUTH SINCE THE KOREAN PENINSULA WAS DIVIDED, BUT RETURNS TO THE NORTH ARE RARE. BETWEEN 2012 AND 2022, ONLY 31 DEFECTORS RETURNED TO NORTH KOREA, ACCORDING TO SOUTH KOREA’S UNIFICATION MINISTRY.

THE DEFECTOR IS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR CHARGES INCLUDING VEHICLE THEFT AND VIOLATING NATIONAL SECURITY LAWS. ALTHOUGH SOUTH KOREA GRANTS AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP TO DEFECTORS, IT PROHIBITS CITIZENS FROM CROSSING THE BORDER WITHOUT GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZATION, WITH OFFENDERS FACING UP TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON.

WHILE MORE THAN 1,000 NORTH KOREANS DEFECT TO THE SOUTH EACH YEAR, MANY FACE CHALLENGES ADAPTING TO LIFE IN THE SOUTH. THOSE WHO DO RETURN NORTH, DO SO OVER FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS OR A DESIRE TO BE WITH FAMILY. RETURNING DEFECTORS OFTEN FACE IMPRISONMENT OR RE-EDUCATION UPON REENTERING NORTH KOREA.

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