"China Massively Repatriates Even Pregnant Women... Yoon Government Unable to Respond"

Insider "600 Repatriated Immediately After Asian Games Closing"
First 'Large-Scale North Repatriation' Since North Korea Border Reopening
"Day of Humiliation for Yoon Government," Ruling and Opposition United in Criticism

Amid reports that China repatriated over 600 North Korean defectors residing in China immediately after the closing of the Hangzhou Asian Games, the government's complacent response has come under scrutiny. This is the first time that a large-scale repatriation involving hundreds of people has occurred since North Korea reopened its borders, which had been locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which has championed 'North Korean human rights,' is being criticized for failing to timely grasp such information and for not taking action to prevent the repatriations.

Jeong Pedro, head of the North Korean Justice Solidarity, stated in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 12th, "Over 600 North Korean defectors who had been arrested and imprisoned as illegal residents during the COVID-19 spread were loaded onto trucks and repatriated," adding, "The repatriations took place in five locations, from Dandong in Liaoning Province to Hunchun, Duman, Nampyeong, and Jangbaek in Jilin Province." He further noted, "In some areas, North Korean State Security Department officials came directly to China to escort or command the operation."

A reenactment of the Chinese government's forced repatriation of North Korean defectors at a rally held in Seoul in 2008. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Jeong specified the timing of the repatriation as "after 8 p.m. on the 9th," which was the day immediately following the closing of the Hangzhou Asian Games. A North Korean defector who was imprisoned in a border prison at the time reportedly hurriedly informed her Chinese husband that she was likely to be repatriated, saying, "I cannot guarantee what will happen, so please take care of the children." Notably, the repatriation reportedly included a significant number of women and children, including pregnant women and even newborns. There are also reports that families of South Korean prisoners of war were included on the repatriation list.

North Korean authorities, who had closed their borders for over three years since January 2020 due to concerns over COVID-19 spread, began gradually reopening the borders this summer and officially approved the return of overseas residents for the first time at the end of August. A source familiar with North Korean affairs explained, "North Korea first repatriated those whom the authorities wanted to prevent from defecting, such as intellectuals, students studying abroad, and embassy staff," adding, "From that point until just before the Asian Games opened, repatriations were carried out covertly, and after the Asian Games closed, a large-scale temporary repatriation took place."

Intelligence authorities have not denied these reports. An intelligence official said, "We are aware of the information disclosed by defector groups and missionary activists," but added, "We are currently investigating the details, and at this time, official confirmation is not possible."

Ministry of Unification Fails to Grasp 'Repatriation Incident'... "A Day of Shame for the Yoon Government"

Young-ho, Minister of Unification, is responding at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's audit on the 11th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

At the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's audit targeting the Ministry of Unification the previous day, ruling and opposition lawmakers repeatedly criticized the ministry. Lee Won-wook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out that the Ministry of Unification only reiterated a principled stance of 'opposing forced repatriation,' saying, "Just making claims or conducting (behind-the-scenes) negotiations is useless." He also noted, "While South Korea-U.S.-Japan relations may have improved, the resulting distancing from China may have caused this problem," criticizing the current government's neglect of relations with China.

Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho invited criticism by responding to a question about whether the government had grasped the repatriation facts, saying, "The Ministry of Unification was anticipating such an incident immediately after the Hangzhou Asian Games." Since his appointment, Minister Kim has pursued efforts to 'promote North Korean human rights' in line with the Yoon administration's North Korea policy, but despite foreseeing the large-scale repatriation incident, he failed to respond adequately. Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, criticized, "It is a day of shame for the Yoon government, which has emphasized North Korean human rights."

A woman being dragged away by Chinese police outside the Korean Consulate in Beijing, China. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Among human rights organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in rescuing North Korean defectors, voices have emerged pointing out the problem of delayed 'information sharing' between the Ministry of Unification and the National Intelligence Service. The Ministry of Unification recently established an 'Information Analysis Bureau' to strengthen its intelligence functions and received a level-3 official dispatched from the National Intelligence Service. However, Minister Kim stated, "I learned about the repatriation news through media reports," and none of the Ministry of Unification, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or National Intelligence Service?departments involved in the issue of defectors residing in China?have provided answers regarding the facts or countermeasures.

Assemblyman Tae Young-ho of the People Power Party criticized, "The Chinese government repatriated over 600 North Korean defectors on the 10th, coinciding with the anniversary of the founding of the North Korean Workers' Party, as if sending a gift, fully aware that defectors sent to North Korea face the possibility of capital punishment." He urged the government to devise measures, saying, "While the government hesitates fearing diplomatic friction with China, defectors who are considered our nationals under the constitution will not escape execution."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Unification has stated that it will clarify the facts and announce corresponding measures. If the large-scale repatriation is confirmed to be true, it is expected that the government will issue a protest statement at the national level.

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