Another mass group of defections in China, this time at the Korean school in Beijing. There were 23 women, 6 men and 2 children. The school may well be a Korean government funded and run school, but it does not enjoy extraterritoriality or any diplomatic privileges, which means that in theory the Chinese could rush the school and arrest them all. According to the article, Korean officials are in negotiation with the Chinese government about the fate of the hostages. They cannot go to the Korean embassy for now, since that is chock-a-block full with 120 would-be defectors awaiting processing.
Is this ‘the push’? Those who remember the East Germans entering West German diplomatic compounds in Hungary and Czechoslovakia in the summer of 1989 might be thinking that this could be the beginning of the big rush. Indeed, according to the Chosun Ilbo:
Recently, cases of North defectors forming groups to enter diplomatic institutions and international schools in China are alarmingly on the rise. Only last month, 29 people broke into a Japanese school and 44 people entered the Canadian embassy. On Sept. 15, 20 people entered the Korean embassy. In total, 102 North Korean defectors have entered diplomatic institutions in less than 50 days.
This is impressive. On the other hand, it is important to be cautious as well and not risk people’s lives needlessly. Earlier this month 9 defectors entered an American school in Shanghai, only to be told that the school had no extraterritoriality and that the police had been called and were on their way to pick them up. Sure enough, they were dragged screaming from the school while the students looked on in horror. Nice job all round! [
5 Comments
There’s definitely been an upswing of North Koreans fleeing into embassies, schools etc. in China, but one factor influencing the numbers may well be the people you alluded to who are assisting them, and how well organized they are. By the way, check out the blog dog stew that marmot has linked to–I just looked at it, and thought it was a put on at first, but I think this person is really an apologist for kim jong-ill…it’s truly fascinating to see him/her dodge people’s comments to sustain a view that suggests psychosis when expressed by someone who lives outside of the “worker’s paradise” (or maybe it IS kim!)
NK Defectors Trapped Between Lions
Stratfor (Subscription-Required) discusses the most recent disagreement between Seoul and Washington over NK defectors. Lee Hwa-young, a legislator from South Korea’s ruling Uri Party, leveled an accusation Oct. 22 at U.S. nonprofit National Endowment…
Asia by Blog
Asia by Blog is a twice weekly feature, posted on Monday and Thursday, providing links to Asian blogs and their views on the news in this fascinating region. Please send me an email if you would like to be notified of new editions. Previous editions ca…
Rhapsody
More defectors - pleas…
bondage equipment
More defectors - pleas…