In the photos released by the South Korean government, they look like your typical teenage group touring abroad, wearing matching green shirts, and throwing up peace signs for the camera.
But this group was no teen tour, they were North Korean defectors in Laos en route to South Korea.
The teens were detained by Laotian authorities and sent back to North Korea through China.
This move that has caused uproar in the region and sets a dangerous new precedent says Greg Scarlataoiu, the executive director of The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea.
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