The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently addressed the issue of North Korean refugees in China, marking a notable shift in their approach. The UNHCR said China must acknowledge the severity of the situation faced by defectors and urged China to “take all measures to ensure viable and effective humanitarian space for those asylum-seekers,” including issuing identification cards and legal residency documents. It’s a call to refrain from repatriating North Korean refugees.
This change in stance comes in the wake of international condemnation following China’s forceful repatriation of hundreds of North Koreans from detention in October. The UNHCR has been silent on the issue of North Korean defectors in China for the past few years.
The UNHCR made these recommendations in a recently submitted statement to the UN Human Rights Council. The Human Rights Council calls for 193 UN Member States to undergo a peer review of their human rights record every 4.5 years. The UNHCR, which oversees refugee issues, was asked to comment on China ahead of the country’s UPR in January next year.
Human rights organizations highly anticipate the UPR as it serves as an opportunity to highlight human rights issues in a country and call for improvements. Ahead of China’s review, 162 human rights organizations worldwide submitted reports to the Human Rights Council imploring China to protect North Korean defectors.
All UN member states have the right to speak during the UPR, to ask questions, and to make recommendations. Each member state gets one minute to speak on the day of the UPR, so countries must prepare their statements in advance. South Korea, in particular, should take a more proactive role in this coming UPR.
The previous Moon Jae-in administration remained silent on the issue of North Korean refugees during the UPR on China in 2018. In stark contrast, it was the United States, Germany, and Austria that voiced human rights concerns of North Korean refugees even though these countries are not directly involved parties. The Yoon Suk-yeoul administration should not follow the former administration’s steps.
North Korean refugees have risked their lives to flee their homes. Most of them have starved to death in North Korea. Those repatriated face brutal treatment, including torture, detention, and sometimes death.
Under international law, North Korean defectors are considered refugees. Yet China continues to repatriate North Korean refugees despite being a member of the Refugee Convention. To put a stop to these inhumane acts, we must stand in solidarity with the international community and constantly remind China of its obligations. This not only concerns the refugees’ safety but also reflects on China’s global reputation.
