[imText1]It has been predicted that the granting of refugee status to North Korean defectors by the Bush administration, as well as the entrance of North Korean refugees into the United States, could seriously impact the pyschology of North Koreans, especially among intellectuals.
The U.S. used to grant refugee status only to North Korean defectors who were high officials with important information. Granting refugee status to common North Korean defectors was the cause of much controversy both domestically and internationally. Some say the US is finally ready to tackle the North Korean human rights issues head on.
Pastor Cheon Ki-won, head of Durihana (a South Korean missionary group) was instrumental in helping the North Korean defectors who were just admitted to the U.S. and said in a phone interview, “There are additional defectors who can be allowed to enter the U.S.” Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said, “Defectors who entered the U.S. this time will be categorized as the ‘first group’”, implying that more North Korean defectors will be going to the U.S.
However, some say that it is difficult to conclude that the acceptance of North Korean defectors by the U.S. is putting direct pressure on North Korea. Instead, what it could do is put psychological pressure on North Korea and in the long run, be a factor that sparks turmoil within North Korean society.
◆ Symbolically Pressuring North Korea
Professor Kim Tae Hyo at Sungkyunkwan University said, “It is still unclear exactly how the granting of refugee status of several North Korean defectors will impact North Korea. It seems that the US is trying to envelop North Korea psychologically through international issues such as human rights”.
Professor Jeh Sung Ho of the JoongAng University School of Law said, “It is still to be observed if accepting several North Korean defectors will put pressure on North Korea, but it will certainly have influence in the long run”. He added, “When it is known that the U.S. accepts North Korean defectors and is supporting human rights organizations, it will hasten turmoil within North Korean society”.
Professor Jeh pointed out, “It is possible that North Korea might be forced into using absurd measures to control North Korean defectors when they feel the tension from the societal turmoil”.
Professor Yoo Ho Yeol of Korea University’s North Korea Studies Department, said “It seems like the US is trying to show that they are making efforts to improve the human rights situation in North Korea by accepting North Korean defectors. It will be encouraging for the intellectuals who are trying to overcome the situation in North Korea”.
Professor Yoo added, “It also implies that the U.S. can now back up what has been its position on North Korean human rights and refugees, despite other legal and political implications. This, if nothing else, will have symbolic influence”.
◆ It Will Pressure South Korean and Chinese Government
Some say that the U.S. is calling out human rights issues along with imposing economic sanctions on North Korea in order to resolve the problem of nuclear weapons; the U.S. is trying to pressure North Korea through human rights, after gaining some leverage through recently freezing BDA accounts.
In response to this analysis, Professor Yoo says, “The U.S. is not only trying to resolve the problem of nuclear weapons, but it has other purposes as well. It needs to be understood that North Korean human rights is only one aspect of greater multidimensional discussions”.
Others are concerned about the potential intensification in the conflict between South Korea and the U.S. regarding North Korean human rights because of this incident. Granting refugee status to North Korean defectors by the U.S., will not directly cause conflict, but it could cause further discrepancies between the two nation’s policies regarding engagement with North Korea”.
The Bush administration is taking actions based on the policies set forth by the enactment of the North Korean Human Rights Acts in 2004 and first hand accounts from North Korean defectors. On the other hand, the South Korean government adheres to the quiet diplomacy that characterizes the Sunshine Policy, and continues to abstain from voting on the UN Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in North Korea.
Professor Jeh Sung Ho says, “It will not directly pressure the South Korean government, but it seems like the conflict between the two countries regarding North Korean human rights will be heightened. I am concerned about the possible damage this issue may cause both to the cooperative relationship between South Korea and the U.S., as well as the progress of the six party talks”.
◆ North Korea Could Use It To Delay Six Party Talks
It is also predicted that the acceptance of North Korean defectors by the U.S. will put pressure on the Chinese government as well. Last month, at the summit talk between the U.S. and China, President Bush openly requested the Chinese government to be lenient on North Korean defectors, especially regarding the forcible repatriation of North Korean defectors and the trafficking of North Korean women.
Professor Yoo said, “The U.S. says the Chinese government needs to pay more attention to the human rights problem of North Korean defectors, as was mentioned at the Summit Talks. The Chinese government is faced with the sentiment that they should do what amounts to what the U.S. does”.
It was also mentioned that North Korea might use this incident to delay the six party talks.
Professor Kim Tae Hyo says, “North Korea has delayed the six party talks for freezing accounts in BDA. They will try to boycott the six party talks for the attempt to bring the collapse of the North Korean regime through broaching human rights issues. North Korea will use the incident to delay the six party talks”.
