Defectors regularly escape the horrors of life in North Korea but a rarer phenomena known as ‘double defectors’ – escapees who return after failing to adapt to outside life – has gripped the country.
Often these double defectors are punished or imprisoned, sometimes then deciding to defect again and give life outside Kim Jong-un’s hermit kingdom a second chance. In one instance a double defector escaped and re-entered North Korea on four separate occasions.
In October a North Korea couple who had escaped North Korea decided to return to the rogue state with an irresistible offer designed to ward off any threat of punishment.
An anonymous source told Radio Free Asia (RFA) the couple gave the North Korean government £56,600, information regarding defectors living in South Korea and a promise to help round up these defectors’ family members.
The couple, who were both identified only as Sohn, had met after separately defecting to South Korea, where they then married.
However according to RFA they failed to settle and decided to return to North Korea together.
The source said: “Residents are terrified that the couple, called Sohn, may point out even more among them.
“Those who were arrested because of the information the couple provided are defectors’ families or people who have been having telephone conversations with people in South Korea.
“Because they are now suspected of association with South Korea, they will be punished harshly.”
More than 20 residents living in the couple’s home town of Hyesan have been arrested since their return. Many others are now fearing for their lives.
A separate source told RFA he had met Mrs Sohn while she was living in South Korea.
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She said: “Sohn was unemployed, and we often stayed in touch When I called her recently, I found that she had returned to North Korea.
“Her husband, who is in his early 40s, took out loans from a bank and some acquaintances to start a business, but then the couple quietly vanished after settling affairs with their house.
“But they often had family trouble because of his difficulties adjusting to society.”