Partnerships

On Thursday, May 9, I attended a demonstration in front of South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both as a representative of the Human Rights Hub, and as an intern of Citizens’ Alliance of North Korean Human Rights (NKHR). Nine NGOs and two individuals directly affected by China's forced repatriation policies gathered to urge foreign minister Cho Tae-yul to address the topic of forced repatriation of North Korean refugees during his upcoming visit to China. Prior to the demonstration, the attendees co-wrote and signed a letter to the Ministry and the foreign minister, of which I had the privilege of signing on behalf of the Human Rights Hub. 

The Chinese government is believed to have forcibly repatriated about 200 North Korean defectors who were detained at the Baishan Detention Center in Jilin Province to North Korea on April 26, starting with the massive repatriation of some 600 North Korean defectors on October 9, 2023. Additionally, 50-60 North Korean defectors from China were forcibly repatriated around April 26. On May 6, more than 60 North Korean defectors were reported to have been arrested by Chinese authorities in Nanning and are waiting to be repatriated. Those individuals who are repatriated face a horrifying array of abuses, such as arbitrary detention, torture, abuse, sexual violence, forced abortion, execution, and enslavement. Thus, the CCP is complicit in the North Korean government’s crimes. 

According to Daily NK, an anonymous source in North Hamgyong Province recently stated that North Hamgyong state security and police departments have been working together with the Chinese government to crack down on finding and returning North Koreans. This information was then released to the North Korean province’s public to further deter them from defecting. The Chinese government will either leave defectors with nowhere to go, or step up repatriation efforts, stationing agents at various locations to watch for defectors. Consequences for family members left behind in North Korea would be severe. 

Before his departure to Beijing on the 13th, Minister Cho told reporters he would address the topic of forced repatriation during the meeting, stating that “Since it is an important concern of our government, we will naturally raise it and listen to China’s opinions as well.” Later that afternoon, Minister Cho met with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Upon Minister Cho’s mention of China’s stance towards North Korean defectors, Vice Minister Wang simply responded that “China’s policy toward the Korean Peninsula remains unchanged, and that China will play a constructive role in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue.” 

Of course, the response from Minister Wang is not at all what I, or the other attendees at the demonstration had hoped for. Still, we found pride and success in our work. Because of our efforts, we were able to convince Minister Cho to address the topic of forced repatriation in his meeting. To this day, issues surrounding reunification, North Korean defector laws and freedoms, and North Korean human rights work are incredibly politicized in South Korea. Any bit of publicity in support of these topics is a larger part of the journey towards resolving such issues. Additionally, being able to include the Human Rights Hub in the demonstration was an immensely significant and impactful opportunity. Not only did our participation represent the Hub’s values and what we stand for, but it showed the greater Korean populace that the issue of North Korean defectors and forced repatriation requires vigilant and undivided attention. No true progress can be made unless Koreans, foreigners residing in South Korea, and the international community alike come together to urge our leaders to take a stand on the side of human rights. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.mofa.go.kr/www/main.do 

Participating NGOs and individuals:

Citizens’ Alliance of North Korean Human Rights; NKHR (북한인권시민연합): https://www.nkhr.or.kr/en/ 

Transitional Justice Working Group; TJWG (전환기 정의 워킹그룹): https://www.tjwg.org/ 

Dream makers for NK (물망초): https://www.mulmangcho.org/ 

 NK Imprisonment Victims’ Family Association (NK감금피해자가족회): https://nkv.modoo.at/ 

Free to Move; F2M (자유왕래회)

Tongil Mom (통일맘연합회): http://tongilmom.com/

Family Union of Korean POWs Detained in North Korea (국군포로가족회): https://www.625pow.or.kr/ 

Justice for North Korea; JFNK (북한정의연대): https://www.justice4nk.org 

The Human Rights in North Korea; THINK: https://www.touchnk.com/ 

Gyuri Kim (김규리)

Hyuk Kim (김혁)  

Photographs: Bitna Kim (김빛나)

Sources

NKHR News Release: South Korea-China Foreign Ministers Meeting on May 13 urged to include the agenda of “prohibition of forced repatriation of North Korean refugees and guaranteeing them to South Korea” (“북한인권시민연합 보도자료: 5월 13일 한・중 외교장관 회담 ‘탈북 난민 강제 송환 금지 및 한국행 보장’ 의제 포함 촉구”) 

“Outlines of China-North Korea agreement on defector repatriation shared with N. Korean Public”

(““비법월경자 독 안에 든 신세”...북중 간 북송 협의 내용포치”)

“조태열 외교, 왕이와 첫 대면서 "강제북송 당연히 꺼내겠다"”

한중 외교장관회담(5.13.) 결과

Written by Lauren Yhip for Yonsei GSIS Human Rights Hub