The head of the North Korea Freedom Coalition says Laos must assume responsibility for the safety of nine young North Korean escapees recently repatriated to the North.

Suzanne Scholte told media in a phone interview that the Lao government must regularly visit North Korea to check on the safety of the escapees.

The young escapees were secretly led into Laos from China by a South Korean pastor and his wife but were arrested by local police on May tenth. They were detained for 18 days before being abruptly repatriated to the North.

Scholte said the Lao government was aware if it turned the youths over to North Korea, they would face the risk of torture, imprisonment and even execution.

She added that the South Korean pastor and his wife had been taking care of the escapees since 2010, risking their safety and lives.

The Lao government commented recently that it cannot recognize the political asylum of minors.