The neglected crisis: North Korean refugees and US policy options

In my research paper, I attempt to analyze the brutal human rights abuses of North Korean (NK) refugees, many of whom flee to neighboring China, driven by political persecution and chronic hunger. NK refugees are not welcomed in China for geo-political reasons– and, accordingly, are denied refugee status. This is a topic which merits far more research. The majority of NK escapees are women and young children. Denied legal recognition upon escape, many are eventually forced into human trafficking, including sex slavery. Still others suffer an even worse fate upon repatriation. Despite recognition by certain (mostly Western) countries, NK refugees are, in fact, widely not recognized as such by neighboring Asian countries. Due to such disagreement, international organizations (notably UNHCR) have been largely powerless to help. This is a pity, for refugees in places like Africa and the Middle East – no more deserving of international attention and help –nevertheless receive far more of it. The present impasse, I also argue, can largely be attributed to the self-interested actions of the Chinese government. I chose to investigate this research topic from two angles. First, I set about to ascertain whether NK escapees are simply “economic migrants”, or whether they are indeed full-fledged refugees deserving protection under international law. Second, I examined United States (US) engagement on the issue, both in domestic and foreign policy. Throughout my thesis paper, I use various documented sources, including governmental reports as well as the testimonies of NK refugees who suffered labor camps and other horrendous punishment for attempting to flee their country. I also extensively explore how international refugee law is routinely ignored, to the great detriment of NK refugees. I explain why the NK refugee issue is important – to not only North Koreans, but to the international community as well. I therefore hope my work will contribute to greater awareness of the urgency of the issue, while offering assorted policy recommendations to the US government. Finally, I argue that it is in both America’s moral and strategic interest – especially given the country’s recent “pivot to Asia”−to take a leading role in improving the basic human rights’ of NK refugees.M.A.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Hyein Ki