Nine North Korean escapees are said to be facing repatriation after having been handed over to Chinese authorities by Vietnam police.
 
South Korean nongovernmental organization Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights said ten North Korean escapees succeeded in entering Vietnam from China but were caught by Vietnamese police on October 22.
 
The organization said the group was immediately handed over to Chinese authorities. It said one of the escapees, a child with Chinese citizenship, was released while the remaining nine were transported to Shenyang in Liaoning Province. 

The organization said the exact whereabouts of the nine North Koreans have yet to be confirmed.  
 
The escapees were reported to be aiming to ultimately head to South Korea and that among them was a family with a young child.
 
The organization said the escapees must be allowed to freely select their destination, adding that it is aware that the South Korean government asked China for cooperation on the matter.