|
North Korean border guards armed with Russian Dragunov sniper rifles shot dead citizens who tried to flee the impoverished nation by fording the Duman or Tumen River into China, the Sunday Times reported citing human rights campaigners.
"On the Chinese shore alone, two bodies, marked by several bullet holes, were found by a local activist,¡± the weekly paper said. "The shootings indicate a coordinated change in tactics by North Korea and China to deter refugees from crossing... The two countries, nominally socialist allies, have agreed to tighten security measures to ensure 'stability' in the run-up to the Olympic Games and to stop any embarrassing demonstrations by the refugees."
The Times said Chinese police are meanwhile carrying out house-to-house checks for North Koreans in villages and checking household registration papers much more thoroughly in the border towns. ¡°But the most effective new measure is a cash reward, which people believe can be 150 pounds for informing on a North Korean in hiding,¡± it added.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
