National Assembly Adopts Resolution Urging China to Immediately Stop Forced Repatriation of North Korean Defectors

"China, a Party to the Refugee Status Convention and the Convention Against Torture
Must Comply with the Provisions of International Human Rights Treaties"

On the 30th, the National Assembly passed a resolution at the plenary session urging the Chinese government to immediately halt the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors residing in China.

The resolution passed by the National Assembly on this day emphasized that the Chinese government is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, stating, "We are concerned that the Chinese government is taking discriminatory measures against North Korean defectors without refugee screening procedures, resulting in arrest, detention, and forced repatriation. As a party to the Refugee Convention and the Convention Against Torture, we urge the Chinese government to comply with the provisions of international human rights treaties."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The resolution also expressed "deep concern over reports that many North Korean defectors who fled political persecution and starvation and were arrested and detained in China have recently been forcibly repatriated to North Korea by the Chinese government following the reopening of the North Korea-China border, and that additional forced repatriations are imminent."

It continued, "North Korean defectors have the right to have their human rights protected based on international norms from the perspective of humanitarianism, a universal value of humanity, as well as being citizens of the Republic of Korea as defined by the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Korea," adding, "The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea takes note of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (COI) report released in 2014, which emphasized that North Korean defectors who escape to China should be recognized as refugees and be entitled to international protection."

Furthermore, it urged ▲the Chinese government to immediately stop forced repatriation considering the physical and mental suffering and status disadvantages that North Korean defectors would face if forcibly repatriated ▲maximum cooperation from the Chinese government for North Korean defectors’ travel to South Korea or third countries ▲efforts by international organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to prevent forced repatriation by the Chinese government ▲ diplomatic efforts by the South Korean government to prevent forced repatriation of North Korean defectors.

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