In a new report, Refugees International says that the Chinese government has launched a crackdown on North Korean refugees, deporting increasing numbers back to their home country. According to a report in the Korea Times: “Chinese authorities even offer a reward of around $16 to those who turn in North Korean defectors… Among local ethnic Koreans, anti-North Korean sentiment is also growing due to their contribution to the rising crime rate in China, according to the Washington-based NGO. ”
In a piece in the Washington Post today, Roberta Cohen argued that participants in the six-party talks should create a framework to discuss human rights with North Korea, similar to the Helsinki agreements during the Cold War. Cohen argues that ultimately this would benefit China: “China will need to be brought into the process as well. It hosts the six-party talks and is North Korea’s primary ally. Between 200,000 and 300,000 North Koreans have fled to China because of famine, lack of work and persecution. There they face the threat of arrest and deportation. Yet promoting fairer food distribution in North Korea and improved human rights conditions would help curb refugee flows into China. ”
Meanwhile, several high level Chinese officials have been visiting North Korea in recent weeks.
