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Tue, October 3, 2023 | 06:53
-------------------------
9 N. Koreans defect to South aboard boat
北주민 또 남하..9명 서해로 귀순
Posted : 2011-06-15 18:23
Updated : 2011-06-15 18:23
Kim Ji-soo
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By Kang Hyun-kyung, Chung Min-uck

Nine North Koreans aboard a small boat defected to the South last Saturday after crossing the maritime border in the West Sea, a government official said Wednesday.

A joint team, consisting of the National Intelligence Service, National Police Agency, Joint Chiefs of Staff and Defense Security Command, is now questioning them.

The nine arrived at Udo, a deserted island next to Yeonpyeong Island, aboard the small-size vessel around 6:05 a.m. Saturday.

They declared their intention to defect when the South Korean military spotted them approaching the maritime border in the West Sea.

A government official said the North Koreans were comprised of three men, two women and four children.

A military officer who initially spotted them was quoted as saying that “the North Koreans were waving their hands in a peaceful manner.”

It’s been more than four months since the last defections when four out of 31 North Koreans who drifted into the South’s water on Feb. 5 expressed their desire to stay here.

The remaining 27 were sent back to the North on March 27, 50 days after they arrived in the South.

Pyongyang reacted furiously to Seoul’s decision to allow the four to stay, demanding they be repatriated.

Nearly 20,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea to date.

The North has not responded to the latest defection.

Analysts say the defections could be a sign that the food situation in the North is getting worse and the hardship facing the population is increasing.

Pyongyang has requested the United States, Europe and other countries to provide food aid.

The World Food Program (WFP) sent a team to the North to investigate the food situation there in March, and later called for the international community to resume food aid.

Millions reportedly go hungry in the North with women and children being hit the hardest.

北주민 또 남하..9명 서해로 귀순
"일가족 포함"..정부, 귀순경위 등 합동신문 북한 주민 9명이 지난 11일 서해 우도 해상을 통해 남측으로 귀순한 사실이 뒤늦게 확인됐다. 정부의 한 소식통은 15일 "북한 주민 9명이 지난 11일 오전 6시5분께 전마선(소형 선박)을 타고 서해 우도(인천광역시 강화군 서도면 말도리) 해상으로 넘어왔다"면서 "이들은 귀순 의사를 표명한 것으로 안다"고 밝혔다. 이들은 남자 성인 3명과 어린이 2명, 여자 성인 2명과 어린이 2명 등이며 일가족도 포함된 것으로 알려졌다. 국정원과 경찰, 합참, 기무사 등으로 구성된 합동신문조는 경기도 시흥의 중앙합동신문센터에서 이들 주민의 월남 동기와 경로 등을 조사 중인 것으로 전해졌다. 군의 한 관계자는 "이들 주민은 손을 흔들면서 귀순 의사를 표시해 경계부대에서 선박을 육지에 대도록 했다"면서 "당시 경계부대는 미식별 물체를 탐지한 후 처음부터 대기태세를 유지하고 추적 감시했다"고 말했다. 북한 주민의 남하는 지난 2월5일 31명이 서해상을 통해 넘어온 지 4개월여만이다. 당시 북한 주민 31명 가운데 귀순 의사를 표시한 4명을 제외한 27명은 남하 50일 만인 3월27일 서해 상을 통해 북측으로 송환됐다. 북한 주민의 집단 탈북이 잇따르자 식량난 등으로 북한 주민의 생활이 더욱 어려워지고 체제 이완이 심화된 것 아니냐는 관측이 일고 있다. 북한은 이번 귀순에 대해 송환을 요구하며 강력히 반발할 것으로 예상돼 남북관계 악화의 새로운 변수로 작용할 가능성이 있다. 북측은 지난 2월 남하했다가 귀순한 4명에 대해서도 송환을 요구하며 거세게 반발했었다. (연합)
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