The Foreign Ministry will set up a special task force to deal with North Korean escapees after recent criticism of Seoul’s failure to prevent their forced return to the communist state.

The Korean Community Team will consist of three Foreign Ministry officials and one Unification Ministry official, and headed by career diplomat Kim Ji-min.

The team will handle related problems in Southeast Asia and China.

“By having a task force that specializes in rescuing North Koreans, we hope to be able to monitor every situation and solve issues in an efficient manner,” said a Foreign Ministry official.

Experts and activists have criticized the South’s lack of ability to prevent North Koreans from being dragged back to their homeland.

They urged the government to increase cooperation among ministries and with international bodies to protect North Korean defectors. Once repatriated they usually face torture and some are even executed.

Nine Seoul-bound North Korean youths were deported from Laos to Pyongyang in May. In June, Pyongyang authorities released footage of the youths, arguing that South Koreans had attempted to kidnap them.

Under North Korean law, citizens caught making unauthorized journeys abroad can face punishment ranging from forced labor to public execution.

Those who are suspected to have been intending to travel to the South are especially likely to face tougher consequences on return to the communist country.

By Jeong Hunny (hj257@heraldcorp.com)