The plight of North Korean defectors, marked by enforced disappearances, underscores a systemic crisis that the international community must urgently address. For these defectors getting out of North Korea is not the end. It appears that they are being pursued by the North Korean government abroad.
Enforced Disappearances of North Korean Defectors
The Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), based in South Korea, has highlighted the perilous journey faced by North Korean defectors. Their recent report, “Existing ‘Nowhere:’ Looking into North Korea’s Crime of Enforced Disappearance,” documents over 100 instances where defectors vanished during their escape attempts, often implicating North Korean agencies with international assistance. This report stems from TJWG’s extensive interviews and investigations with defectors.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Over 100 North Korean Defectors Caught By Secret Police Gone Missing, Says Rights Group pic.twitter.com/IN8W2Q7Zkq
— Aneke Tv (@AnekeTv) October 31, 2024
The organization conducted interviews with 62 defectors. The findings show that North Korea’s Ministry of State Security, border guards, and other bodies are responsible for 81.4% of these cases. Additionally, China and Russia were involved in the arrest of defectors, making these disappearances a matter of international concern.
Impact on Families and International Obligations
Shockingly, 47.8% of the defectors’ relatives reportedly disappeared, indicating that familial ties are targeted in attempts to deter defections. Age demographics show 38.9% were in their 20s and 30s, while 11.5% were children. This demographic emphasizes the breadth of human rights violations. Grounds for these disappearances included attempts to escape or criticism of the regime, bringing to light the dire circumstances under Kim Jong-un’s rule.
Dozens of North Korean defectors caught by secret police 'vanish', says rights group https://t.co/uuJpWU51yk
— CTV News (@CTVNews) October 31, 2024
“A South Korean advocacy group released a report on Thursday noting that more than 100 North Koreans have gone missing after trying to defect.” – Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG)
The North Korean Constitution deceptively mentions free speech and fair trials, yet criticisms can lead to enforced disappearances. This contradicts international agreements North Korea is party to, such as the 1951 Refugee Convention, which South Korea’s laws support in offering protection to defectors.
Dozens of North Koreans defectors caught by secret police 'vanish', says rights group https://t.co/liu33fD58w pic.twitter.com/u6ikbs187R
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 31, 2024
International Call for Accountability
TJWG’s advocacy director, Ethan Hee-Seok Shin, stated that the organization is preparing an advocacy report to challenge North Korea’s disregard for human rights. The international community must recognize the urgency of scrutinizing North Korea’s practices, which Freedom House describes as severely punitive towards political dissenters.
These enforced disappearances point to the need for a unified international stance pushing for the safety and rights of North Korean defectors. The forthcoming TJWG advocacy report is anticipated to spotlight efforts toward accountability, urging global powers to take decisive action.
