[Exclusive] "NIS Aware in Advance of 'Forced Repatriation of Chinese Defectors from North Korea'"

Source "Two Days Before Forced Repatriation, NIS Was Informed"
NIS-Foreign Ministry Silent on Responding to Chinese Defectors
"Overseas Repatriation Incident" Announced by Ministry of Unification, Not Foreign Ministry
"No Information Sharing or Evidence of HUMINT Breakdown"

Intelligence authorities were reportedly aware in advance of China's 'forced repatriation of North Korean defectors in China' incident. Considering that it took four days for the government to determine the unprecedented large-scale repatriation as a 'fact,' criticisms have been raised that information sharing among related ministries was not properly conducted. Due to this, there are also criticisms that our government missed the opportunity to deter China through international public discussion.

Lee Young-hwan, former head of the Transition Justice Working Group (TJWG), cited sources on the 31st, stating, "Two days before China repatriated about 500 North Korean defectors, on the 7th, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was provided with information indicating 'signs of a large-scale repatriation,' but they did not activate HUMINT (human intelligence network) or actively investigate the situation." He added, "The primary agency responsible for rescuing overseas North Korean defectors is the NIS. If intelligence collected by the agency had been shared, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should have responded by conducting additional verification through overseas diplomatic missions, but such procedures were not carried out."

Lee Young-hwan, Representative of the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), speaking about the forced repatriation incident of North Korean defectors in China
[Photo by Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG)]

Lee introduced the source as an activist who has been rescuing overseas North Korean defectors since the late 1990s and is well-versed in local conditions in China. This source was reportedly trusted enough to provide Thomas Ohea Quintana, then UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights, with detailed information including figures that "about 2,000 individuals at risk of repatriation were detained in various detention facilities across China" in early last year. This information was publicly announced by his successor, Elizabeth Salm?n, in September last year and has since been cited as credible data by our government, the US Congress, and the international community.

An NIS official responded to inquiries about whether they had obtained prior information on the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors in China by saying, "There have been no confirmed inquiries from the relevant departments," but added, "However, we are closely monitoring the repatriation trends of North Korean defectors."

A former senior diplomat remarked, "Even if the information was known, it cannot be concluded that the repatriation could have been prevented, but there is a fundamental difference between being aware in advance and attempting public discussion and not responding due to ignorance." He continued, "If the NIS obtained the information, it either failed to share it timely with related ministries or failed to respond; if it did not know, it indicates a collapse of HUMINT regarding China or North Korean defectors."

The government acknowledged the incident as fact four days after the repatriation, on the 13th. On the 11th, two days earlier, Kim Young-ho, Minister of Unification, responded at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's audit when asked, "When did you become aware of the forced repatriation incident?" by saying, "I became aware through media reports (today)." A senior official from the Ministry of Unification also confessed to reporters after the 'fact determination' announcement on the 13th, "We did not receive any information until the repatriation incident became known."

The task of 'rescuing overseas North Korean defectors' falls under the jurisdiction of the NIS and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Overseas Cooperation Team for the Ethnic Community. The Overseas Cooperation Team for the Ethnic Community consists of seven members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Unification, and related departments (NIS). Additionally, NIS personnel are dispatched to overseas diplomatic missions with titles such as counselor and minister-counselor. Although the infrastructure for information sharing was sufficiently established, related information was not shared with the Ministry of Unification in a timely manner.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not disclosed any efforts related to the issue of North Korean defectors in China beyond a 'principled stance.' Regarding inquiries made through the office of Tae Young-ho, a member of the People Power Party, about the 'activities of the Overseas Cooperation Team for the Ethnic Community and cooperation with related agencies,' the ministry refused to disclose information citing reasons such as ▲the safety of defectors ▲the impact on related activities of our diplomatic missions ▲cooperation with the concerned country on defectors.

Lee Jung-hoon, a professor at Yonsei University's Graduate School of International Studies and the inaugural Ambassador for International Cooperation on North Korean Human Rights, pointed out, "It is necessary to verify whether the NIS and Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducted detailed negotiations through consuls dispatched across China," adding, "It is also questionable whether related ministries discussed countermeasures or if there was a control tower." He further warned, "It is true that it is difficult to intervene in China's jurisdiction, but that does not mean we should stand idly by. This incident should serve as an opportunity to review and improve the roles of each ministry. As has been the case for decades, repatriations will continue to recur."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.