From South Korean Prime Minister to Ministers... International Community United to Prevent China's Forced Repatriation

Korean Prime Minister "Met Xi Jinping Before AG, Expressed Concerns Over North Korean Repatriation"
Minister of Unification Requests Cooperation from UN and Key Figures
From the US to the UN, Continuous Pressure on China

The United Nations and Western countries have begun to raise their voices to prevent the 'Forced Repatriation of North Korean Defectors in China' incident. Since China maintains its policy of not recognizing North Korean defectors as refugees, our government appears to be focusing on solidarity with the international community rather than direct negotiations with China.

According to the government on the 19th, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated at a regular press briefing at the Government Complex Sejong the previous day, "During my visit to China on the 23rd of last month to attend the Hangzhou Asian Games, I had a meeting with President Xi Jinping, and since this is an important and concerning issue for us, I raised the matter (regarding concerns about the repatriation of North Korean defectors)." Initially, the government only indicated that it was in close diplomatic talks with China, fearing diplomatic friction, but it has now publicly disclosed that it clearly expressed its concerns before the repatriation incident occurred.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo entering the press corps briefing Photo by Yonhap News

Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho also engaged in indirect pressure targeting China by holding separate video meetings with Elizabeth Salm?n, the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights, and David Alton, a member of the British House of Lords, the previous day. Minister Kim requested attention and cooperation regarding the forced repatriation incident of North Korean defectors, repeatedly emphasizing 'solidarity with the international community.' In particular, he reminded that China must comply with the 'principle of non-refoulement' and reaffirmed the policy to "accept all North Korean defectors who wish to enter the country."

Elizabeth Salm?n, the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights who met with Minister Kim, also issued a statement in Geneva, Switzerland, together with 17 UN human rights experts. These experts criticized the Chinese government, stating, "According to the international law principle of non-refoulement, North Korean defectors must not be sent back to North Korea."

Julie Turner, the newly appointed US State Department Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights, who visited Korea last week shortly after her appointment, told reporters in Seoul the previous day, "We intend to focus on preventing further repatriations in the future," adding, "Since the Chinese government is a signatory to both the UN Refugee Convention and the Convention Against Torture, we are raising this issue directly at the bilateral level to ensure compliance with these international obligations."

Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho [Photo by Yonhap News]

Additionally, Tae Young-ho, a member of the People Power Party, while staying in the United States on the 16th (local time) for the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee’s audit, met with US State Department officials and members of the US House of Representatives to request cooperation to prevent further repatriations. The US State Department promised to place the 'halt to forced repatriation' agenda on future US-China bilateral talks and to pressure the Chinese government on multilateral stages, including the UN General Assembly.

Meanwhile, earlier reports from missionary groups that have been conducting rescue activities for North Korean defectors indicated that on the night of the 9th, the day after the closing of the Hangzhou Asian Games, the Chinese government suddenly repatriated 500 to 600 North Korean defectors residing in China. Four days later, on the 13th, the Ministry of Unification stated, "It appears to be true that a large number of North Korean residents, including defectors, were repatriated from the three northeastern provinces of China to North Korea."

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