FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
General Federation of North Korean Defectors in Canada:
Rokbong, Kim: President
canadanorthkorean@gmail.com, 416-890-0670
Crossing NK
Soyeon Jang: Executive Director
crossingnk@gmail.com, 416-315-0136
Urgent Call to End Forced Repatriation by China of North Korean Defectors:
Join the Demonstration in Toronto
Toronto, ON, M4X1G6 – Dec. 8, 2023 – Crossing NK, in collaboration with the Canada Federation of
North Korean Defectors (CFNK), will hold a protest in front of the Chinese Consulate 240 St, George
Street Toronto on December 10th, World Human Rights Day. The demonstration aims to condemn and
call for an immediate end to China’s forced repatriation of North Korean defectors.
In recent weeks, we have become aware that the Chinese government has secretly and forcibly repatriated
over 600 North Korean defectors who were imprisoned along the North Korea-China border. These
actions occurred before and after the Hangzhou Asian Games, at a time when peace and unity among
Asian countries were meant to be promoted.
The North Korean defectors were apprehended in China while attempting to escape to South Korea
during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. They were subsequently held in prisons located in China’s Jilin
and Liaoning provinces. Prior to North Korea officially lifting its border blockade on August 27th, more
than 2,600 North Korean defectors and political prisoners were detained in China’s border detention
centers and prisons. Disturbingly, Chinese authorities continue to arrest North Korean defectors within
China.
Canada Federation of North Korean Defectors(CFNK)
2
China conducted a series of clandestine military-style operations, repatriating over 80 North Koreans on
August 29th (the day before the opening day of the Hangzhou Asian Games), more than 40 on September
18th, and over 500 on October 9th (the day after the Games concluded). These repatriations were carried
out through five customs posts on the North China border, including Hunchun, Tumen, Changbaek, and
Dandong.
While China has engaged in small-scale repatriations of North Korean defectors since the lifting of
coronavirus controls, this recent operation marks the first time such a large number of individuals have
been forcibly repatriated. Among those repatriated, many are women, including young children and
pregnant mothers.
The Chinese government is well aware that North Korea is one of the world’s worst human rights
violators and that North Koreans who attempt to reach South Korea via China and are repatriated face
immediate execution or are sent to political prison camps to be subject to starvation, torture and death. By
forcibly repatriating these individuals, China is effectively complicit in aiding and abetting murder.
The CFNK and Crossing NK in Toronto, Canada, emphatically urge the Chinese government to
immediately cease the forced repatriation of North Korean refugees and release those currently detained,
consistent with its status as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
In light of these grave concerns, we, the North Korean defectors living in Canada, will be holding a
protest demonstration in front of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto on December 10th, coinciding with
World Human Rights Day. We call upon Canadians to join us in this movement against the forced
repatriation of North Koreans. Furthermore, we will initiate a one-million-person petition calling for a
halt to the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors worldwide, including by Canada.
We, the North Korean defectors living in Canada are standing up and raising our voices on behalf of our
brothers and sisters in Chinese prisons who are in grave danger of repatriation and its dreadful
consequences. We urge all Canadians to follow our lead and join us in this crucial movement against the
forced repatriation of North Korean defectors.
Thank you!
