China repatriated Ho Young Il, 30, and six other North...

China repatriated Ho Young Il, 30, and six other North Koreans, who entered Russia in November 1999 and were expelled to China in late December of the same year. They could face execution in North Korea. On January 13, South Korea had strongly protested against China's return of the seven North Korean defectors to North Korea. A statement released by the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry said that South Korea "expressed deep regrets about the Chinese government's action and lodged a strong protest over the matter." (see South Korea)