China has recently claimed that North Korean defectors are not refugees, while rejecting South Korea’s recommendation that people fleeing North Korea and other countries be given adequate protection. After the Chinese government reiterated that it does not intend to recognize defectors as refugees, female defectors in China are expressing extreme anxiety.
In recent days, a Daily NK source in China contacted 30 defectors living there through various means. The aim was to ask the defectors about China’s recent response to a South Korean recommendation made during the Fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Chinese authorities consider defectors to be illegal aliens, which means they are not entitled to protection and are exempt from a ban on forced repatriation. This attitude terrifies defectors, many of whom mentioned the possibility of ending their own lives.
“I need to have a poison ready”
Facing the continued possibility of repatriation due to China’s refusal to recognize defectors as refugees, 20 of the 30 female defectors contacted by Daily NK said they “need to have some poison handy. One defector said she would “rather die if there is any sign of repatriation.”
Seven of the defectors also said that they intend to “carry poison with them at all times” so that they will be ready to end their lives given the constant possibility of being arrested and repatriated. In other words, many of these women would rather die in China, far from home, than be sent back to North Korea, where they would be treated little better than dogs.
“I’ll get to South Korea or die trying”
In addition, 26 of the 30 defectors who spoke to the Daily NK said they had made up their minds to “get to South Korea or die trying.” These women say they are determined to reach South Korea despite the risk of arrest because they can no longer count on a safe life in China.
Female defectors in their twenties who had held out hope of receiving temporary citizenship from China expressed disappointment. “If the Chinese authorities view defectors as criminals who crossed the border illegally, there’s no way they’ll give us temporary citizenship,” one of them said.
“We desperately need the international community’s interest and support”
The 30 female defectors had already been suffering from extreme anxiety and fear since a large number of defectors were repatriated at the end of last year. But now they report feeling even more distressed by the latest reminder of their plight.