Citizens at risk of abduction by North Korea: Seoul

Twelve women working at the restaurant in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo defected to the South with their manager last month. Seoul said they came voluntarily while the North insists they were tricked into defecting by South Korean spies who effectively “kidnapped” them. 

The South’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, said overseas missions had been advised to heighten their vigilance. 

“We are closely watching out for multiple possibilities, including abduction or terrorism by the North,” said ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee.“We are trying to ensure the safety of our nationals,” he said. 

Seoul’s Hankook Ilbo daily reported Monday that Pyongyang was plotting to abduct South Koreans to trade for the 13 defectors.