Plight of North Korean Defectors in SE Asia

Facing the relentlessness of Chinese authorities, a growing number of North Koreans are rushing to cross the Chinese border with Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, where they are hoping to make their way to South Korea.

Marking its 83rd anniversary, the Donga Ilbo sent a special investigative team to China, Vietnam and Thailand to write a story about the perilous journey of these North Korean refugees. There are hundreds of North Koreans waiting for the South Korean government to grant them refugee status there.

Non-government and religious organizations are helping, but North Korean refugees still suffer from fear and feelings of insecurity. A South Korean businessman owning a restaurant near Hanoi in Vietnam said during an interview with Donga, “Sometimes, they just continue to come, one after another, asking for something to eat.”

Without a passport, however, they often fail to find a place to stay and get caught by the police on the streets, only to be sent back to China.

“Before organized efforts to help North Korean defectors were launched, these countries did not even let them in, but now they are allowing them to stay albeit reluctantly,” said Chun Gi-won, a missionary working for the Duri Hana Congregation, an organization that helps North Korean defectors.

“It used to take a month or two for them to gain refugee status, but now it takes about five to six months due to the growing number of applicants,” Chun added.

Chinese authorities impose a 6,000 yuan fine (about 960,000 won) to anyone caught helping North Korean refugees and offer a 30,000 yuan reward (some 4.8 million won) to anyone giving tips for round-up operations.

They have recently set stricter rules, even forcing residents in northeastern regions to sign documents pledging not to help North Korean refuges.

Humanitarian organizations estimate that thousands of people were sent to North Korea after the joint ‘mop up’ operation between China and North Korea, which began in December last year.

Dong-Ki Sung Jin-Suk Huh esprit@donga.com jameshuh@donga.com