Calling Bob King

I haven’t seen any news coverage about Korean-Americans protesting against Xi Jinping over China’s policy of sending North Korean refugees to gulags and firing squads.  China has never been known for its great sensitivity to public opinion, of course, so I also have to wonder if Vice President Biden’s “frank discussions” with Xi, during the latter’s visit, included any mention of a large group of North Korean refugees — various reports number them at 21, 29, or 33 souls — who are about to be sent back to a grim fate in North Korea.

Anyone heard from Bob King this year?

An informed source on North Korean affairs said, “Considering recent cases, chances are high that North Korean defectors who are repatriated will be sent to the Susong political camp in North Hamgyong Province, the toughest one among all concentration camps in the North. Others could be executed in their hometowns to serve as an example of prosecution.”  [Dong-a Ilbo]

That would be this camp, images of which have never been published anywhere else, to my knowledge.

Fortunately, about 100 people in Seoul have staged a protest, which I suppose is something. I’m at least four years past the point of wondering when South Koreans, who are hardly immune to outrage for various perceived affronts, will ever care much about the North Korean people.

[Update:   Sorry about that bad link.  Fixed.]