SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- China appears to have repatriated nine North Korean defectors to their totalitarian homeland after they were caught in Laos and sent to Beijing early this week, a Seoul official said Wednesday, raising fears that they are likely to face harsh punishment.

The North Koreans, aged between 15 and 23, fled their country to Laos via China last month, but were forced to return to China on Monday after being rounded up by the Lao authorities on May 10. South Korea had asked Laos to send them to Seoul, but Laos rejected Seoul's plea.