South Korean officials criticized over China's deportations of North Korean escapees

Activists call on the Chinese government to release North Korean refugees detained in the country, near the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, Sept. 4. Rights advocates criticized the South Korean government on Sunday for its lack of action to protect the North Koreans after the Chinese government reportedly deported hundreds of them last week. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Human rights activists criticized South Korean government officials, Sunday, after China’s repatriation of hundreds of North Korean escapees last week, saying their unawareness of the move was a serious intelligence failure ― if not a lie.

Their criticism comes two days after the administration’s belated confirmation that many of the North Koreans detained in China over the last three years were deported to the North on Oct. 9, a day after the end of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou in eastern China. Officials said they were still unaware of exactly how many were forced to leave China.

Speaking to The Korea Times, Peter Jung, a rights activist who first broke the news citing his own sources, including families of those deported, denounced the government for failing to secure that important piece of information before he did, let alone making any moves to prevent Beijing's actions.

“The government has been irresponsible and incompetent (in handling the issue),” Jung said. “Human rights groups urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be more proactive in resolving it before and during the Asian Games, but the ministry seemed unmoved.”

He accused the ministry of taking no concrete action on the North Korean refugee issue despite the legitimate concern of grave human rights abuses and the many diplomatic options available.

“It could issue an official statement against the Chinese practice or put greater pressure on U.N. agencies to find other solutions, such as jointly setting up facilities for such refugees in China or other countries … But so far, it appears to have avoided its responsibility,” he said.

Shin Hee-seok, an activist at Transitional Justice Working Group, said he was also astonished by the government’s belated acknowledgement of the deportations.

“If true, it was a serious intelligence failure,” he said. “It is possible that the government did not share its intelligence to the public deliberately for diplomatic reasons. Either way, it is a great disappointment.”

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, left, walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of their meeting in Hangzhou, China, Sept. 23. Courtesy of Prime Minister's Office

Beijing proceeded with the repatriation plan despite Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s request during a meeting with Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, just two weeks ago.

“It’s like a diplomatic slap in the face,” Shin said. “And yet, our government did not take any proper measures such as summoning China’s Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming for a complaint. I think it should.”

The deportation of the North Koreans has drawn condemnations around the world.

“Pyongyang treats leaving without permission as a crime of ‘treachery against the nation,’ punishable by death or by detention in abusive forced labor camps. Faced with this threat, any North Korean who leaves or stays outside the country without permission should be regarded as a ‘refugee sur place,’” Human Rights Watch, a New York-based group, said in a statement.

Refugee sur place refers to any person who becomes a refugee after leaving their country regardless of prior treatment or reasons for leaving, according to Human Rights Watch.

“The Chinese government routinely labels undocumented North Koreans (as) illegal ‘economic migrants’ and does not allow them to seek asylum or resettlement … China is a party to the United Nations Refugee Convention and Convention Against Torture, which prohibits the forced return of anyone at genuine risk of persecution or torture,” it said.

Chris Smith, chair of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China, also urged both the U.N. and Beijing to stop the repeated violation of international law.

“The United Nations needs to do more, including listening to its own rapporteur on North Korea human rights, Elizabeth Salmon. In August, I sent a letter urging the U.N. High Commissioners for Human Rights and for Refugees ― Volker Turk and Filippo Grandi, respectively ― to address this urgent matter and discuss strategies to intensify international pressure against such repatriations. I still have yet to hear back. Their lack of response underscores the U.N.’s apparent lack of awareness ― or, even more ominously, susceptibility perhaps to China’s influence,” he said.

“I remain committed to advocating for the rights of North Korean refugees and insist that North Korea treat them in accordance with human rights principles and a fundamental respect for their humanity.”