Seoul (AsiaNews) – The three small North Koreans held hostages by Laos police have been released “thanks to international pressure” and arrived this morning in Seoul. South Korean diplomatic sources confirmed their safe arrival and that no ransom had been paid for the three boys.
Choi Hyang, Choi Hyuk and Choi Hyang-mi, aged 12, 14 and 17, who crossed the North Korean border into China about five or six years ago, were caught by Lao border patrols in November 2006 while attempting to cross the Mekong River into Thailand. Their dream was to reach the United States. After serving a three month prison sentence they were further detained by police who sought one thousand dollars for their release.
The non governmental organisations following their case refused to pay the ransom, in fear of creating a dangerous precedent, but appealed to the international press and world governments to intervene. Thanks to media pressure and an appeal from the United Nations the Lao government ordered the immediate release of the three boys while Seoul offered to take them in.
But the dramatic situation facing those who flee the despotic regime of Kim Jong-il continues: over 400 exiles, closet in a detention centre in Thailand for over two weeks are now in the third day of a hunger strike, to protest against the South Korean government’s resistance to granting them asylum.
