U.S. envoy rebukes China on refugees
Published: 07 Nov. 2009, 03:34
WASHINGTON - The U.S. nominee for North Korea human rights envoy on Thursday denounced China for the deportation of North Korean refugees, saying he will continue pressing Beijing on the matter.
Speaking at a Senate confirmation hearing, Robert King said, “We have raised these issues with the Chinese, and it would be my intention to continue to do that .?.?. The Chinese have been less hospitable than we would like in terms of accepting these refugees and allowing them access to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.”
China, Pyongyang’s staunchest ally, sees North Korean defectors as economic migrants rather than refugees, and deports them under a secret agreement with North Korea where they are persecuted.
Reports said that hundreds of thousands of North Korean defectors are hiding in China. Most of the defectors cross the border with China to seek shelter, mainly in South Korea, which has received nearly 20,000 of them since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.
The U.S. has taken in about 80 North Korean refugees since the North Korean Human Rights Act was enacted years ago to help promote democracy in the dictatorial nation.
King, a former congressional aide, was named in September as special envoy for North Korean human rights, replacing Jay Lefkowitz, who quit in January after three years of service.
The Congress extended the act for another four years, calling for “activities to support human rights and democracy and freedom of information in North Korea,” and “assistance to North Koreans who are outside North Korea,” plus 12-hour broadcasting to North Korea. In his final report, Lefkowitz in January urged Obama to emphasize human rights in talks with the North. Yonhap
Speaking at a Senate confirmation hearing, Robert King said, “We have raised these issues with the Chinese, and it would be my intention to continue to do that .?.?. The Chinese have been less hospitable than we would like in terms of accepting these refugees and allowing them access to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.”
China, Pyongyang’s staunchest ally, sees North Korean defectors as economic migrants rather than refugees, and deports them under a secret agreement with North Korea where they are persecuted.
Reports said that hundreds of thousands of North Korean defectors are hiding in China. Most of the defectors cross the border with China to seek shelter, mainly in South Korea, which has received nearly 20,000 of them since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.
The U.S. has taken in about 80 North Korean refugees since the North Korean Human Rights Act was enacted years ago to help promote democracy in the dictatorial nation.
King, a former congressional aide, was named in September as special envoy for North Korean human rights, replacing Jay Lefkowitz, who quit in January after three years of service.
The Congress extended the act for another four years, calling for “activities to support human rights and democracy and freedom of information in North Korea,” and “assistance to North Koreans who are outside North Korea,” plus 12-hour broadcasting to North Korea. In his final report, Lefkowitz in January urged Obama to emphasize human rights in talks with the North. Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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