China detains 10 North Koreans amid possible defector crackdown — Sources

SEOUL: Ten North Koreans, including a three-year-old child, have been detained in China, where they face being deported back to the North, two sources with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters.

The group was trying to defect to South Korea but were detained by Chinese police in the northeastern city of Shenyang in Liaoning province, according to the sources, both of whom requested anonymity citing the sensitivity of the situation.

China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a daily news briefing yesterday she was unaware of details of the case. She said China consistently upholds the handling of such matters in accordance with domestic and international law and humanitarian principles.

“I was able to confirm they were there until (Monday) morning, but they seem to have been transferred elsewhere since then,” one of the two sources told Reuters yesterday.

The man only wanted to be identified by his surname Lee because his wife and three-yearold son were among the detained 10.

“I told her to call again and was waiting and hoping she would find a safe place somewhere, but she never called me back,” Lee said.

The group consisted of seven women and three men, Lee said. His wife and son had met the rest of a group at a safe house in Shenyang, but lost contact with him on Saturday, Lee said. — Reuters