[NTD] China Forcibly Repatriates Large Number of North Korean Escapees

11 Dec 2023

On October 15, NTD reported on China's forced repatriation of North Korean escapees from its northeastern provinces, which raises serious concerns about the maltreatment and severe punishment they might face upon their return to North Korea. Despite international outcry and appeals, Beijing continues to regard North Korean escapees as "illegal economic migrants," leading to their arrest, imprisonment, and eventual handover to North Korean authorities. The situation has been further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with North Korea closing its borders with China, resulting in the prolonged detention of these individuals in China.


International bodies, including the United Nations and the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), have highlighted the dire consequences of this forced repatriation and urged China to adhere to its obligations under international refugee protocols. The article features data from NKDB's Unified Human Rights Database, which was made public during a joint press conference held in Seoul on August 16.


The Wall Street Journal cited data from the Seoul-based Database Center for North Korean Human Rights, reporting that over 8,000 North Koreans have been repatriated, and 98 percent were sent from China.


You can read the full article on NTD website by clicking HERE.