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

China returned Ho Young Il, 30, and six other North Koreans defectors to North Korea. Russian border guards had deported the seven North Korean to China on December 30, 1999, two months after they fled their country and arrived in Russia through China. Fearing they would face execution if sent back to North Korea, South Korea and human rights groups had called on Russia and China to send them to South Korea. (see South Korea)