버마에서 탈북자 19명이 체포됐다고 현지 치안 당국이 밝혔습니다. 이들은 불법입국 혐의로 재판을 받을 예정입니다.
이들 탈북자들은 중국과 동남아시아를 거쳐 한국으로 가려다 이달 초 버마에서 체포됐습니다. 이들이 언제 탈복했는지에 대해서는 알려지지 않았습니다.
버마 이민국은 이들을 이민국 수용소에서 교도소로 이송했으며, 다음 주 재판을 치를 예정입니다.
굶주림과 억압을 피해 북한에서 나온 탈북자 중 많은 사람이 중국과 동남아시아를 거쳐 한국에 갑니다. 하지만 중국 정부는 이들을 경제 난민으로 간주해서 북송 시키고 있으며, 이에 대한 국제 사회의 비난이 높습니다.
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Authorities in Burma say they have arrested 19 North Korean defectors and will try them on charges of illegally entering the country.
The defectors were trying to make their way to South Korea via China and Southeast Asia when they were captured after entering Burmese territory early this month. There is no information on how long they had been in China.
Burmese immigration authorities have moved the group from a detention center to a prison, where they await a trial expected to open next week.
North Koreans fleeing the impoverished and repressive Stalinist state are increasingly choosing Southeast Asia as a destination after passing through China, in hopes they can eventually resettle in South Korea.
China repatriates North Korean defectors it captures as economic migrants.
Authorities in Burma say they have arrested 19 North Korean defectors and will try them on charges of illegally entering the country.
The defectors were trying to make their way to South Korea via China and Southeast Asia when they were captured after entering Burmese territory early this month. There is no information on how long they had been in China.
Burmese immigration authorities have moved the group from a detention center to a prison, where they await a trial expected to open next week.
North Koreans fleeing the impoverished and repressive Stalinist state are increasingly choosing Southeast Asia as a destination after passing through China, in hopes they can eventually resettle in South Korea.