North Korean soldiers who defected to China have been captured and returned.
China reportedly captured and returned 12 North Korean troops who had defected after shooting their senior officer.
According to Korean media reports, there have been a series of defections among North Korean soldiers due to food shortages. North Korean border troops have been forced to cultivate their own corn and potatoes to survive and several groups have decided to roll the dice on escaping, only to be caught by Chinese border patrols.
It's not just North Korean soldiers who are having trouble escaping. In January, the New York Times reported that it was becoming "increasingly difficult" to smuggle refugees out of North Korea thanks to a crack down by China's border control.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has formally approved a probe into North Korea's human rights abuses.
(AP Photo)
