The Marmot’s Hole

The Munhwa Ilbo (Korean) and Chosun Ilbo (English) ran pieces on the role Mongolia is playing as a midway point for North Korean defectors wishing to go to third countries, usually South Korea:

The Mongolian government said it would not want refugee camps built in Mongolia in the near future, but it would continue to accept North Korea defectors. The International Herald Tribune (IHT) reported Monday that Mongolian Foreign Minister Munkh-Orgil Tsend said his nation would continue its policy of accepting refugees crossing over the border into Mongolia.

The foreign minister said if refugees are confirmed to be North Korean defectors, they are provided room and board until they are sent to another country that would accept them (usually South Korea). He said his government does not repatriate those who cross the border into Mongolia back across the border to China. He also said Mongolian border guards have already received orders not to hand North Korean defectors over to Chinese authorities.

The foreign minister, speaking frankly, said he didn’t want any form of refugee camp set up in Mongolia, and his government was not considering establishing such camps on Mongolian territory anytime in the near future.

In the post North Korea Human Rights Act world, South Korean and U.S. civic groups would apparently like to see Mongolia become a little like Portugal:

The IHT said U.S. and South Korean defector support groups hoped Mongolia could play the role played by Portugal during World War II — a neutral nation where defectors could stay until they moved on to another country.

Unfortunately, it appears defector support groups aren’t the only game in town. Three months ago, the North Koreans re-opened their their embassy in Ulaan Baatar; the legation had been closed for five years. The embassy staff’s mission, it is believed, is to block Mongolia from becoming a haven for defectors. The Chosun points to one example of a protection center being forced to relocate a couple of weeks ago due to concerns about North Korean infiltration attempts, and the Munhwa Ilbo piece quotes Mongolian PM Tsakhiagiyn Elbegdorj as saying, “The North Koreans are watching us very closely.”

One request — as can be seen above, the Chosun cites a report in the IHT, while the Munhwa Ilbo cites one in the NYT (presumably the same piece, as the IHT gets its pieces from the NYT). Thing is, I wasn’t able to find the one they’re talking about in either. If anyone comes across the original piece, please link it below.