Sources inside the country say many are skeptical about the regime's offer, and that the jobs may be little more than re-education through labour. Daily NK reports

The North Korean security forces in the country’s northeasterly border region are renewing their attempts to coax defectors to return from South Korea, according to sources inside the country.

One source in the area said her people’s unit (or inminban) meeting, which North Koreans are expected to attend regularly, was recently dominated by a lecture concerning instructions handed down by security services.

"In the meeting, people were told that if they happened to make contact with defected family members then they should tell them [the following]," she said.

"Even though you betrayed the Motherland, your hometown, your parents, brothers and sisters, were you to return to the Motherland then not only would you be forgiven; you would also be provided with an apartment and a job to encourage you to work hard. These are the wishes of our General," the source, from North Hamkyung province, quoted the lecturer as saying.

“Most of the chairwomen who run these meetings mentioned that people who returned to the North already are living well,” she went on. “They said that they were not taken to re-education camps and had been given apartments. In this way, they are urging people to try and get defected family members to come back here.”



Some people who have returned from South Korea to Hyesan in Yangkang and Yeonsa County in North Hamkyung have reportedly been given apartments. However, they have also reportedly been allocated work in mines and on farms, causing local people to suggest that they are actually being “revolutionised”.

Some people who have returned from South Korea have reportedly been allocated work in mines and on farms, causing local people to suggest that they are actually being 'revolutionised'

The term “revolutionised” means that since they are deemed to have acted against the policies, orders, and line of the ruling Party, they are in need of re-education through hard labour and additional ideological indoctrination.

People have expressed mixed feelings regarding the official attempts to tempt escapees back to the North. On the one hand, many are confident that “people who have opened their eyes to that society [capitalism in South Korea] will never fall for [the offer of an apartment and a job],” the source said. “If the security officers weren't bound by their duties, they would laugh at this just like we are,” she added.

“They tell us not to make illegal calls [to people outside North Korea], so I don't know how they're expecting us to convey this message to defectors abroad. If that is what they want then they should stop regulating phone calls to that country,” the source pointed out. She joked: “If we're caught calling abroad, we can just make the excuse that we're telling family to come back.”

On the other hand, there are others who are impressed by the free housing and job offer. The most notable returnee, who is used as a prominent example of the state keeping its promise, is defector Pak Jong-suk, who returned in May 2012 and, shortly thereafter, took part in a press conference to criticise the South Korean government.

Plenty of people are aware that “even though she betrayed her country and family, she is living well with her son in Pyongyang,” the source said.

Daily NK has a network of sources inside North Korea, who remain anonymous for their safety. The organisation corroborates reports with several sources.