Seoul Refutes NGO Claims, Emphasizes Defector Protection Efforts

Seoul, South Korea – The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has vehemently denied claims by a North Korean human rights organization that two North Korean defectors were abducted in Vietnam. The Ministry asserted its commitment to protecting defectors and ensuring their safe transfer.

In an official statement released on the 12th, the Ministry stated, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively working to ensure the safe protection and domestic transfer of overseas North Korean defectors. The media reports that two female defectors were abducted and that the government is unable to locate them are not true."

The Ministry refrained from disclosing specific details, citing concerns over personal safety and diplomatic relations with the relevant country.

The controversy arose from allegations by the North Korean Justice Solidarity, a private organization, which claimed that two female defectors, who had recently fled from China to Vietnam, were abducted after being denied assistance by the South Korean consulate in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to the NGO, the defectors, who had previously been sold to Chinese men and resided in Shandong Province, sought refuge in Vietnam to avoid forced repatriation to North Korea. The organization alleged that despite repeated requests for assistance, the consulate refused to intervene, citing a lack of legal basis.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its commitment to protecting North Korean defectors and pledged to continue cooperating with the international community on this issue.