13 North Korean restaurant workers en mass escaped from an overseas restaurant and reached South Korea last Thursday, announced Seoul’s Ministry of Unification on Friday. It is the first time in five years for North Koreans to enter Seoul in a group defection since Mar. 2011.

“A male manager and 12 female employees from a North Korea’s overseas restaurant defected together and arrived Seoul on Apr. 7”, said unification ministry spokesperson Jeong Joon-hee. They are in good health condition, added the spokesperson.

"There had been cases when North Korean’s overseas restaurant workers individually made escapes but it is the first time for the workers to defect and reach Korea,” said Jeong. The South Korean government received the North Korean defectors, respecting their will, on humanitarian grounds, explained the ministry spokesperson.

“The restaurant workers came to realize the falsehood of North Korea’s political propaganda after learning of the real life in South Korea through television shows, movies, and the internet while living aboard,” said Jeong.

Seoul government, however, refused to disclose the details on the defectors such as the location of the North Korean restaurant and escape routes “to avoid any possible diplomatic friction with a third country and for personal security issues as well as any possible cases in the future.”

“The defectors are reportedly from China,” said an unnamed high-ranking official at ruling party. “Being under much pressure on sending foreign currencies (to North Korea) amid recent sanctions against North Korea upon United Nation’s resolution must have triggered the defection,” said the official. The North Korean defector arrived South Korea via a third country after departing China, added the person.

By Kim Sung-hoon

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