South Korean Coalition Urges China to Halt Repatriation of North Korean Defectors

A coalition of South Korean civic and Christian organizations, including the Esther Prayer Movement and the General Federation of North Korean Christians, held a press conference in Seoul on August 24, 2026. The group gathered near the Chinese Embassy to demand that Beijing stop the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors, arguing that the practice violates international human rights standards and the principle of non-refoulement.

The coalition stated that China classifies North Korean border crossers as illegal economic migrants rather than refugees, thereby denying them access to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. According to the organizers, this policy ignores the severe risks defectors face upon return, including torture, forced labor, and potential execution. The group further alleged that returnees who have had contact with Christians or South Koreans face particularly harsh treatment, and that pregnant women are subjected to forced abortions and infanticide.

By returning these individuals, the coalition asserts that China is failing to uphold its obligations under the UN Refugee Convention and the Convention Against Torture. The organizations are calling for an immediate end to these repatriations, characterizing the situation as a critical humanitarian crisis rather than a simple matter of border management.