South Korea Urges China To Stop Repatriation Of North Koreans Who Escape

China's border with North Korea in Dangdong City. (Wikimedia Commons/Prince Roy)

JAKARTA - South Korea is urging China to stop repatriating North Korean fugitives who are against their will, amid signs Beijing will continue the practice, which would put their lives at risk upon arriving back in their country.

Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho called on Chinese authorities to comply with the UN agreement, on human rights signed by the country, recognizing North Korea's escape as refugees.

"The forced repatriation of people who are against their wishes is a violation of the spirit and principles of international law that prohibit it," Minister Kim said in a press statement on Wednesday.

"All North Korean citizens in China must be treated under international human rights standards, allowed into the country they want. I ask for cooperation between the Chinese Government in the issue of the escape of North Korea detained in China, which South Korea and the international community have repeatedly appointed," he explained.

Minister Kim's remarks came as a pair of buses were detected crossing North Korea's border town of Sinuiju to China, as an indication that the two countries were moving to lift restrictions set on their borders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This may lead to deportation of up to 2,000 North Korean fugitives detained in China due to the coronavirus over the past three years, according to human rights groups.

Meanwhile, MP Choe Jae-hyeong of the ruling People's Power Party, urged Beijing to take the necessary steps as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council in charge.

"The declaration of the end of COVID-19, which is welcomed by people around the world, could be bad news, like the beginning of death, for the escape of North Korea detained in China," he said.

For decades, he added, Beijing has openly violated various UN agreements, including Conventions on Refugee Status and the Convention Against Torture, which China promised to honor as the participating party.

"The Chinese government has turned a blind eye to human rights abuses, the execution and torture of North Korea's escape. We urge relevant international organizations, such as UNHCR, to intensify their efforts to protect human rights and the safety of North Korean fugitives," Choe said.

According to testimonies by many North Koreans who fled, the fate waiting for those deported by China, could at least years be imprisoned in a political prison camp. If they are known to attend religious facilities or contact South Koreans in China, the refugees could be tortured or executed.

For decades, such tragedy has been repeated as a result of China's lack of cooperation as well as low international attention and pressure. UNHCR is responsible for that, said Lee Shin-wha, ambassador for international cooperation in North Korea's Human Rights.

"UNHCR has been less active in this matter over the past 10 years than before," said Lee.

Beijing has treated North Koreans crossing the border as illegal migrants, claiming to have the right to send them back. However, the UN agreement on torture clearly prohibits repatriation to countries where there is a risk of torture.

"It may be too much to conclude that China is responsible for crimes against humanity like North Korea, according to the assessment of human rights experts and international law," said Cho Jung-hyun, a professor at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

"But there is a connection that can make China responsible as its accomplice," Cho added.