04.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Country Report April 2005 - Koreans & North Korean refugees ("Country Report - April 2005") [#31975],  [ID 4416]

"6.277 As noted by Europa publications (2005), there are approximately 1.9 million Koreans in China. [1a] (p 200) As reported by the Encyclopaedia of the Peoples of the World (1993) there are sizeable communities of Koreans in Jilin and Heilongjiang, both provinces close to border with North Korea (DPRK). According to this source many Koreans in China continue to use the Korean language. [20e) (p 317-319)

6.278 According to a report by the Canadian IRB dated 12 February 2003, “There are an estimated 1,920,000 Chaoxian (Korean) people living in the Chinese provinces of Jilin, Heilongjiang and Liaoning; however the majority of Chaoxian people live in the Yanbian Chaoxian Autonomous Region of Jilin.” (Based on information supplied by the China Folklore Photographic Association – CFPA) [3s]

North Korean Refugees

6.279 As reported by the BBC on 28 June 2004, “Between 100,000 and 300,000 North Korean refugees are thought to have fled to China in recent years. Some have sought asylum in foreign embassies, but most have been trying to make a living in northeast China.” [9az]

6.280 On 28 June 2004 the Guardian newspaper reported:
“Aid workers believe that since the late 1990s perhaps hundreds of thousands of North Koreans have fled famine, economic hardship and political repression by crossing the Tumen and Yalu rivers, which mark the border with China. Beijing refuses to recognise them as political refugees. Those that are caught are repatriated to North Korea, where they face punishments ranging from a few days in re-education camps to the death penalty, depending on their rank and the extent to which they are considered to have damaged national security. Many stay close to the border, setting up secret camps in the densely wooded mountains. Desperate and vulnerable, many of the men become bandits and countless women are sold as brides or prostitutes.” [16an]

6.281 As reported by the Asian news site Muzi news on 11 February 2005, “North Korea has executed about 70 refugees who were captured in China and sent home, a South Korean group that helps North Korean refugees said on Friday, citing informants in China.” [15ai]

6.282 On 30 January 2005, The Sunday Times reported:
“[Even though] Televisions receive only one channel which is devoted to the Dear Leader’s deeds. Radios are fixed to a single frequency. For most citizens the internet is just a word. Yet North Koreans confirmed that they knew that escapers to China should look for buildings displaying a Christian cross and should ask among Korean speakers for people who knew the word of Jesus.“ [16cb]

6.283 On 25 November 2003, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Liu Jianchao told the official People’s Daily newspapers that, “China has stated on many occasions that ‘those people [North Korean refugees] are simply illegal immigrants because they flee to China for economic reasons,’ Liu said.” [12k]"

Document(s): Open document

10.2003 - Source: UK Home Office

Koreans ("Country Report - October 2003") [#49232],  [ID 4418]

"250. There are sizeable communities of ethnic Koreans in Jilin, Liaoning and Heilongjiang provinces (all the provinces close to the Korean border). Ethnic Koreans have a distinct identity from the Han, using standard Korean as well as standard Chinese in both speech and in writing. They are primarily Buddhists. [16o]"

Document(s): Open document