Government: "Large-scale Forced Repatriation Judged as Fact... Protested to China"

Ministry of Unification: "Difficult to ascertain exact scale"
"Sternly raised issue with Chinese government... Efforts to protect"

The South Korean government has stated that it "judges as true" the reports that the Chinese government forcibly repatriated hundreds of North Korean defectors immediately after the closing of the Hangzhou Asian Games. The government expressed regret over the large-scale forced repatriation incident and announced that it has raised serious concerns with the Chinese side.

Koo Byung-sam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, is answering reporters' questions at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the morning of the 13th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 13th, Koo Byung-sam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office, "Regarding reports of repatriation of North Korean defectors residing in China, it appears to be true that many North Korean residents were sent back to North Korea from the three northeastern provinces of China," adding, "However, it is currently impossible to accurately confirm how many among them were defectors, patients, or criminals."

Previously, missionary groups and the North Korea Justice Coalition, which have been engaged in rescue activities for defectors, reported that on the night of the 9th, the Chinese government forcibly repatriated 500 to 600 North Korean defectors who had been arrested and detained as illegal residents during the COVID-19 outbreak period, through five locations from Dandong in Liaoning Province to Hunchun, Duman, Nanping, and Changbai in Jilin Province. It is known that the repatriation targets included many women and children, including pregnant women and even newborns.

Koo Byung-sam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, is answering reporters' questions at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the morning of the 13th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Spokesperson Koo emphasized, "The government’s position is that North Korean defectors residing abroad must never be forcibly repatriated against their will under any circumstances," and added, "Forced repatriation against the individual's will violates the international norm of 'non-refoulement'." He further explained, "Our government regrets this situation, has raised the issue sternly with the Chinese side, and emphasized our position."

The Ministry of Unification plans to make every effort in cooperation with related ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to protect North Korean defectors residing abroad. However, it is difficult to accurately confirm the current scale of defectors detained in China or the possibility of additional repatriations. Regarding the protest made to the Chinese government, it was stated, "There have been ongoing requests for cooperation, but more specific details are difficult to disclose as it is a diplomatic matter."

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