North Korea’s severe political repression, abhorrent human rights conditions, and lack of economic opportunities for its own citizens has created a refugee crisis in the East Asian region, as thousands and thousands of its own citizens are continuing to flee secretly to neighboring countries such as China and South Korea (transiting via China) for better political and economic conditions. The refugee crisis in the North Korea-China border region has become more than just a regional problem for the East Asian countries, but also as an international problem as a whole, as North Korean refugees are transiting not just through China but also reaching other countries outside of the East Asian region as well. This includes countries in the
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Many of the refugees when arrived in China have to hide themselves from detection by the Chinese authorities. If arrested by the Chinese authorities, the refugee could face repatriation back to their own country and could possibly face harsh punishment by the authorities back home such as execution and forced labor. During interrogation, torture and beatings were used against the refugees by the Chinese authorities and there is also evidence of North Korean government agents being allowed into Chinese territory in cooperation with the Chinese authorities in identifying, interrogating, and pursuing any North Korean refugee in China (Human Rights Watch, 2002). There is also possibility of danger for the refugee if a Chinese citizen/informer turns in a North Korean refugee to the Chinese authorities in return for a payment of a reward by the Chinese government (Magresson et al., 2007). Living conditions in China 's Northwestern regions near the border with North Korea are no different from the living conditions back home in North Korea. Many refugees have to fend for themselves and do not have any job opportunities available, as getting a job risks being exposed to searches from the police authorities. Children of North Korean refugees are not allowed to go to school and are forced to stay in their home shelters, being constantly worried about their families. Many refugees, mostly women, are at risk of being captured by Chinese businessman and sold for sex slavery or bribe trafficking while others, such as men, resort to crime such as robbery and stealing (Charny,
Many of the refugees when arrived in China have to hide themselves from detection by the Chinese authorities. If arrested by the Chinese authorities, the refugee could face repatriation back to their own country and could possibly face harsh punishment by the authorities back home such as execution and forced labor. During interrogation, torture and beatings were used against the refugees by the Chinese authorities and there is also evidence of North Korean government agents being allowed into Chinese territory in cooperation with the Chinese authorities in identifying, interrogating, and pursuing any North Korean refugee in China (Human Rights Watch, 2002). There is also possibility of danger for the refugee if a Chinese citizen/informer turns in a North Korean refugee to the Chinese authorities in return for a payment of a reward by the Chinese government (Magresson et al., 2007). Living conditions in China 's Northwestern regions near the border with North Korea are no different from the living conditions back home in North Korea. Many refugees have to fend for themselves and do not have any job opportunities available, as getting a job risks being exposed to searches from the police authorities. Children of North Korean refugees are not allowed to go to school and are forced to stay in their home shelters, being constantly worried about their families. Many refugees, mostly women, are at risk of being captured by Chinese businessman and sold for sex slavery or bribe trafficking while others, such as men, resort to crime such as robbery and stealing (Charny,