North Korea threatens to treat cellphone users as 'war criminals'

North Korean citizens caught using mobile phones during the 100-day mourning period for the late president Kim Jong-Il will be branded as war criminals.

 

A similar fate awaits North Koreans who try to defect to China during the period, according to a report on UK's The Telegraph.

 

Citing information from Good Friends, a South Korean relief group, The Telegraph said that North Korea's Workers' Party issued the stern warning in an effort to deter citizens from attempting to defect to China and to cement the stability of the new regime of Kim Jong-un, the late leader's son.

 

It cited reports that food supplies are again dwindling and that there has been an increase in the number of people trying to cross over into China.

 

From China, many eventually manage to reach South Korea, where about 23,000 defectors have now settled, The Telegraph report said.

 

But those caught trying to flee North Korea are sent back over the border, and end up in hard labor camps. Repeat offenders can expect to be executed, the report added.

 

Kim Jong-il died last December 17 after suffering a heart attack, at age 69. North Korean media reported his death stemmed from overwork.

 

The Telegraph noted the US-based research and consulting firm Eurasia Group has identified North Korea as the fifth-biggest threat to international stability in the world in 2012.

 

It said a "lack of information about events" in North Korea and its new leader is a risk that is being "severely underplayed." — TJD, GMA News