Activists are raising the alarm over the fate of approximately 600 North Korean defectors, mostly women, who have disappeared since being deported from China. The deportations took place in October after North Korea lifted its Covid border lockdown, prompting a large-scale repatriation of detainees by China. Human rights groups have expressed concerns that these individuals are now at risk of facing torture, sexual violence, and even execution in North Korea, where they are viewed as traitors by the isolated state. The Transitional Justice Working Group, a Seoul-based human rights organization, stated on Thursday that they have been unable to establish contact with any of the deported individuals, raising further concerns about their well-being. One UK-based sister of a deportee pleaded for her sister’s safety, emphasizing that her only crime was being born in North Korea and expressing the desire for her to live in safety.
The repatriation process involved Chinese-operated buses and vans transporting detainees from detention centers in China’s Jilin and Liaoning provinces to five crossing points along the North Korean border. The prisoners were believed to have been held at Shenyang Prison and Chan chun Tiebei Prison, with over 300 individuals crossing at the Onsong crossing point and 180 at the Dandong crossing point. It is important to note that the Chinese government has not publicly acknowledged these deportations, labeling the North Korean detainees as illegal economic migrants rather than granting them asylum status.
The plight of North Korean defectors is not a new phenomenon, as hundreds of thousands of individuals have attempted to flee the totalitarian regime since the famine in the 1990s. The TJWG reports that more than 70% of defectors are women. In recent years, North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has intensified border security measures, particularly during the pandemic lockdown. The reopening of the border, primarily for trade with China, occurred only a few months ago.
The North Korean situation highlights the immense challenges faced by defectors and the risks associated with deportation. Activists continue to call for increased attention and action from the international community to protect the rights and safety of those affected by these repatriation efforts. By shedding light on this issue, it is hoped that pressure can be exerted on the relevant authorities to ensure the well-being and freedom of North Korean defectors.
