Speech #1100112620

Some flee because they fear persecution for their thoughts and beliefs. I would say that given this situation most North Koreans. given the choice. would leave. So the regime clamps down ruthlessly to stop this flow of refugees. Yet. the sad fact is that those who successfully make it may face further human rights abuses by the Government of the Peoples Republic of China. Beijing is fearful of attracting too many refugees. So it tries to disincentivize the North Koreans. The government sometimes imprisons these people who cross into China. and in an attempt to avoid its responsibilities under the United Nations Conventions and Protocols that govern the status of refugees. to which the PRC Is a signatory. China falsely labels North Korean refugees as economic migrants. This cynical excuse Beijing uses to thwart the legitimate needs of these refugees will not allow the U.N. High Commissioner of Refugees access to northeastern China to assess the welfare of the North Koreans who are there. The disturbing truth is that those in China go to great lengths to attract North Korean refugees through sex and labor trafficking. H. Con. Res. 234 calls on Beijing to stop this awful charade and live up to its moral and legal obligations. It further demands that China stop repatriating North Korean refugees. that it honor the United Nations Conventions and honor the status of refugees. and that it provide unfettered access to the U.N. High Commissioner on this subject. Mr.