Is China stopping forced repatriation of defectors in pushback against NK-Russia alliance?
China appears to be lightening up on the forced repatriation of defectors. (Image: iStock/Ruma Aktar)
Chinese authorities, starting this year, have reportedly stopped sending defectors arrested by public security forces back to North Korea.
Instead, they are releasing them with fines.
While actual surveillance of defectors who enter China illegally has been significantly tightened, the trend shows a marked change from the longstanding policy of forced repatriation.
According to a local source in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, up until the end of last year, defectors arrested by public security were typically detained for 10–15 days before being sent to an immigration detention center in Dandong and repatriated.
But since the beginning of this year, the practice has changed.
Chinese authorities are no longer sending defectors to the immigration detention center. Instead, they are reportedly letting them go back to their homes—where they have Chinese husbands or acquaintances—after they pay a fine.
Three defectors arrested by public security in Shenyang while trying to reach South Korea were released at the end of last month without being sent to the Dandong immigration center. It was confirmed that local authorities demanded a fine of 50,000 yuan (approximately $6,855 USD) for their release.
Similarly, in early March, five defectors who left their homes in Kunming, Yunnan Province, to try to reach South Korea were arrested by local police. They too were released immediately after paying the 50,000 yuan fine and returned to homes where their Chinese husbands reside. However, two defectors who were unable to pay the fine remain detained at the local police station.
It is reported that public security authorities lowered the fine to 30,000 yuan (approximately $4,096 USD), but even this reduced amount couldn’t be paid by the detainees, who continue to be held.
According to the source, these defectors remain in detention because their Chinese husbands claim their North Korean wives tried to abandon them and refuse to pay the fines or take them back.
“In the past, if a husband didn’t come to retrieve his wife, she would be forcibly repatriated without exception,” the source said. “But now, even if they’re caught, the defectors are not being sent back to North Korea—they’re just being detained in local police stations.”
China had previously carried out mass repatriations of defectors following the COVID-19 outbreak, forcibly sending back up to 600 people at once. This new trend of releasing defectors for a fee marks a significant departure from past practices of unconditional mass repatriation.
This change in stance is believed to be a strategic move by China to subtly counterbalance North Korea’s deepening military ties with Russia. By holding back on forced repatriations, China is maintaining its leverage over Pyongyang.
Since the June 2023 North Korea-Russia Military Agreement, North Korea has actively pursued military agreements and sought energy support from Russia, signaling a desire to reduce reliance on China. These actions have left China feeling as though it is being sidelined or used as leverage in North Korea’s broader diplomatic strategy.
Furthermore, the international community has consistently criticized China over the forced repatriation of defectors, calling it a serious human rights violation. The ongoing global condemnation not only damages China’s international image but also imposes diplomatic pressure. In this context, the deepening North Korea-Russia military partnership may have pushed China to ease its repatriation policy.
This shift suggests a new phase in how North Korean defectors are handled. The practice of releasing defectors upon payment is less a humanitarian gesture and more a blend of economic gain and political calculation—yet it does open a narrow path for defectors’ survival.
Particularly, many Chinese men are living with North Korean women, and considering the rising number of fines imposed by authorities and the rapidly evolving North Korea-Russia relations, China is expected to maintain a more flexible stance on the defector issue—at least for now.
However, because the forced repatriation issue is still entangled in complex political dynamics between North Korea, Russia, and China, this leniency is likely to remain temporary. Observers also suggest that China’s broader stance on human rights remains a critical area to watch.
Sewon is the North Korean-born founder and CEO of NK Times, a Seoul-based media outlet focused on North Korea. Drawing on his personal experience living there, he strives for transparency and accuracy in reporting, working to inform readers worldwide about the realities of North Korea.
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