ID :
211518
Thu, 10/06/2011 - 11:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/211518
The shortlink copeid
(Yonhap Editorial) Fundamental measures needed to settle N Korean defectors in China and S Korean abductees in the North
SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's authorities in charge of foreign affairs and unification are busy mapping out measures to block a move by China to deport a group of alleged North Korean defectors back to their home country. The foreign ministry urgently sent officials to China while the unification ministry is forming a task force to confirm the status of South Korean citizens who were abducted to North Korea following the 1950-53 Korean War, and to arrange for the repatriation of any still alive.
It is not the first time that China, North Korea's major ally, has returned North Korean defectors. However, it is more significant this time because two of the group are former North Koreans who obtained South Korean citizenship after defecting to the South.
The matters of North Korean defectors and of the South Koreans who were abducted to the North have become social issues.
The Chinese government does not recognize North Korean defectors as refugees and deports any arrested in its territories back to the North under an agreement with Pyongyang.
China returned 110 defectors to North Korea in July and it is not clear whether Beijing will heed Seoul's call to suspend the return of the 35 North Korean defectors this time.
On this matter our government should speak out strongly as the protection of our citizens is the government's basic responsibility.
The reason the Chinese government maintains its strict deportation policy on North Korean defectors is due to the strength of North Korea's request. China is also concerned about the possibility of a massive influx of North Korean defectors if it takes a more flexible approach. There has been no massive inflow of North Korean defectors in the past 20 years.
China, which has emerged as a G-2 country beside the United States, should now discard its past practices on the human rights of North Korean defectors.
It is proper that our government decided to establish a task force to exclusively handle the matter of South Koreans abducted to the North. The government believes that a total of 517 South Korean citizens have been abducted to North Korea since the armistice that suspended the Korean War.
However, hundreds of thousands of North Korean defectors live in the three northeastern provinces of China in extreme anxiety about their possible arrest and deportation. Our government should also make an effort to improve the lives of North Korean defectors in China.
Now the issues of North Korean defectors in China and South Korean abductees in North Korea have become urgent and should be resolved swiftly. The government should establish measures to finally settle these problems.
It is not the first time that China, North Korea's major ally, has returned North Korean defectors. However, it is more significant this time because two of the group are former North Koreans who obtained South Korean citizenship after defecting to the South.
The matters of North Korean defectors and of the South Koreans who were abducted to the North have become social issues.
The Chinese government does not recognize North Korean defectors as refugees and deports any arrested in its territories back to the North under an agreement with Pyongyang.
China returned 110 defectors to North Korea in July and it is not clear whether Beijing will heed Seoul's call to suspend the return of the 35 North Korean defectors this time.
On this matter our government should speak out strongly as the protection of our citizens is the government's basic responsibility.
The reason the Chinese government maintains its strict deportation policy on North Korean defectors is due to the strength of North Korea's request. China is also concerned about the possibility of a massive influx of North Korean defectors if it takes a more flexible approach. There has been no massive inflow of North Korean defectors in the past 20 years.
China, which has emerged as a G-2 country beside the United States, should now discard its past practices on the human rights of North Korean defectors.
It is proper that our government decided to establish a task force to exclusively handle the matter of South Koreans abducted to the North. The government believes that a total of 517 South Korean citizens have been abducted to North Korea since the armistice that suspended the Korean War.
However, hundreds of thousands of North Korean defectors live in the three northeastern provinces of China in extreme anxiety about their possible arrest and deportation. Our government should also make an effort to improve the lives of North Korean defectors in China.
Now the issues of North Korean defectors in China and South Korean abductees in North Korea have become urgent and should be resolved swiftly. The government should establish measures to finally settle these problems.
