[2023 National Audit] "Day of Humiliation for Yoon Administration" over News of 'Deportation of North Korean Defectors from China'

Insider from China: "Repatriation to North Korea to Resume Immediately After Asian Games Closing"
National Audit: Ruling and Opposition Parties Alike Criticize Ministry of Unification's Responsibility
Lee Won-wook: "Negotiations Only in Words? Impact of Deteriorating Korea-China Relations"
Ha Tae-kyung: "Foreign and Unification Ministers Should Apologize to the Public"

As news emerged that the Chinese government forcibly repatriated over 600 North Korean defectors immediately after the closing of the Hangzhou Asian Games, fierce criticism from both ruling and opposition parties continued in the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, which is conducting a government audit of the Ministry of Unification. The Ministry of Unification is expected to confirm the facts regarding the resumption of forced repatriation and then announce the government’s official stance.

On the 11th, during the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee’s audit of the Ministry of Unification, Minister Kim Young-ho responded to a question from Lee Won-wook of the Democratic Party asking, “When did you become aware of the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors by China?” by saying, “I confirmed it through a report by the Chosun Ilbo.” Earlier that day, during the ongoing audit, a report citing sources stated that “China suddenly repatriated over 600 detained North Korean defectors on the 9th.”

Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho and Vice Minister Moon Seung-hyun are attending the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's audit on the 11th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In response to Minister Kim’s answer, Representative Lee criticized, “Although the Ministry of Unification said it would strengthen its intelligence capabilities, it has effectively failed.” When Minister Kim expressed the government’s fundamental position opposing forced repatriation against the will of the defectors, Lee repeatedly reproached, “Claims or negotiations alone are useless,” and “There must be tangible results.” Especially, “While South Korea-U.S.-Japan relations may have improved, the problem may have arisen as relations with China continued to deteriorate accordingly,” pointing out the impact of the current government’s negligence in improving relations with China.

Criticism also came from the ruling party. Ha Tae-kyung of the People Power Party said, “The Foreign Minister and the Minister of Unification should apologize together before the people,” calling it “a day of disgrace for the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which emphasizes North Korean human rights.” He also stressed that government support for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is necessary to accurately grasp information on North Korean defectors in China, and for this, the prompt establishment of the ‘North Korean Human Rights Foundation’ is urgent.

Additionally, Jeong Jin-seok of the People Power Party questioned “when the government became aware of the repatriation,” and Minister Kim replied, “The Ministry of Unification anticipated that such an incident would occur immediately after the Hangzhou Asian Games.” He added, “It is expected that the defectors will face very difficult circumstances after being repatriated,” and “We will first accurately verify the facts and then devise countermeasures.”

Meanwhile, the Chosun Ilbo, citing Chinese sources, reported that “Public security forces on the 9th between 6 and 8 p.m. loaded over 600 North Korean defectors, who had been detained during the COVID-19 period, onto trucks and suddenly repatriated them through customs offices in Hunchun, Nanping, Changbai in Jilin Province, and Dandong.” The government’s position is that fact verification is a priority, and if the related news is confirmed to be true, it plans to protest to the Chinese government through an official statement at the government level.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.