Chinese priest who supported North Korean defectors found dead

The dead body found in a northeastern Chinese town near the border with North Korea on Saturday was identified to be the same Chinese priest who provided assistance to North Korean defectors. Human rights groups believe that secret agents from North Korea may be responsible for the priest's death.

Han Choong-ryul is the name of this priest who has a Chinese citizenship and ethnic Korean origin. He served as a priest at Changbai Church in Jilin province where many ethnic Koreans also live and is well known to be a supporter of North Korean defectors once they reach the border.

Choi Sung-young, head of the group of families for South Koreans abducted by North Korea, overheard from North Korean defectors that the priest may have been murdered by three North Korean agents. "The agents are known to have returned to their country," Choi said to Korea Herald, adding, "The priest had long supported North Korea defectors. North Korea seems to judge that his church is being used as a hideout for such North Koreans."

There are Chinese citizens who support these defectors by providing temporary shelters until they can escape to South Korea. This is a perilous task especially for Chinese nationals whose country would not lift a finger to protect them from North Korea and would even transport back these defectors to their country.

"American and South Korean citizens doing this sort of work in north-east China might be a little safer, but Chinese citizens are in danger because their own government does nothing to protect them," Robert Park told The Telegraph. Park is the founding member of the Worldwide Coalition to Stop Genocide in North Korea; he's also a former North Korean prisoner. 

The priest's mobile phone is also reportedly missing. It is believed that the phone could have placed both the defectors and supporters in danger.