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North Korea allegedly operates secret prison in Beijing embassy
The Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) has released a report alleging that North Korea operates a secret prison in the basement of its embassy in Beijing. According to the report, the facility is used to detain, interrogate, and forcibly repatriate North Korean citizens who attempt to defect or seek asylum.
The operations are reportedly managed by a ‘security representative’ from the North Korean State Intelligence Department, who holds a formal consular title. The report claims that any unauthorized departure or defection attempt is reported to Pyongyang within 12 to 24 hours, triggering a process to secure the individual and bring them to the Beijing facility.
A specific case highlighted involves Bae Yong-ju, a North Korean hacker. After being detained by Chinese authorities in Inner Mongolia while attempting to reach South Korea, Bae was reportedly transferred to the Beijing embassy. TJWG claims Bae was held for approximately one year before being repatriated to North Korea in August 2023. To avoid suspicion during transport, he was allegedly disguised as a patient in a wheelchair with full-body casts. Reports indicate that Bae has since died in North Korea.
TJWG stated that these transnational repressive actions constitute serious international crimes and human rights violations that also undermine Chinese judicial sovereignty.
Entities
Bae Yong-ju · Beijing · China · North Korea · North Korean Embassy in Beijing · Transitional Justice Working Group
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 5 SOURCES] North Korea's actions in China undermine Chinese judicial sovereignty and due process. www.hidomin.com · www.jnilbo.com · www.aktuality.sk · hnonline.sk · www.voakorea.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Defection attempts are reported to Pyongyang within 12 to 24 hours. www.hidomin.com · www.jnilbo.com · www.aktuality.sk · hnonline.sk · www.voakorea.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Bae Yong-ju is reported to have died in North Korea following his repatriation. www.hidomin.com · www.jnilbo.com · www.aktuality.sk · hnonline.sk · www.voakorea.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] North Korean hacker Bae Yong-ju was repatriated in August 2023 while disguised as a patient in a wheelchair with full-body casts. www.hidomin.com · www.jnilbo.com · www.aktuality.sk · hnonline.sk · www.voakorea.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] North Korea operates a secret prison in the basement of its embassy in Beijing to detain and interrogate citizens attempting to defect. www.hidomin.com · www.jnilbo.com · www.aktuality.sk · hnonline.sk · www.voakorea.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The detention and repatriation process is overseen by a ‘security representative’ from the State Intelligence Department who uses a consular title. www.hidomin.com · www.jnilbo.com · www.aktuality.sk · hnonline.sk · www.voakorea.com