북한 신의주에서 출발한 화물열차가 중조우의교를 넘어 중국 단둥으로 넘어오고 있다.연합뉴스

Relatives of a North Korean defector tried to clear the remains of the defector’s father through the Customs Office in SinUiJu, a border town at the northwestern tip of North Korea. Defector’s father had wished to be buried in South Korea, and his three relatives attempted to transit the remains via China.

But the three relatives were arrested right away. After being questioned by the Provincial police in early May, the Provincial Security Police took over the investigation on June 26th. Provincial Police handle crimes related to commerce, while Provincial Security Police handle political crimes related to anti-state crimes. So, the authorities determined that the case concerning the remains is an anti-state crime befitting imprisonment in the political prison.

An official from Provincial Security Police commented, “Defection is going to be difficult in the future. The policy prohibits defection for living persons and dead people.”

According to the source, “Even the Chinese people residing in North Korea must obtain permission from the regional neighborhood office, Security Police, and Police to transfer remains to China.”

Since 2013, DPRK has been operating a special task force, “Border Family Department” and “Resident Information Department” to block the communication network between the defector community in South Korea and their families in North Korea.

Jang Se-yul

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