Saenuri Party lawmaker Ha Tae Kyung has announced that Russia is committed to preventing the forcible repatriation of North Korean defectors from its territory. The comments are based on a report he received from the Embassy of the Russian Federation in South Korea.

Assemblyman Ha submitted a formal written request to the Russian government regarding its position on North Korean defectors within its borders and revealed the response on November 21st. 

��It has been many years since Russia has repatriated North Koreans found to be in its territory,��  Rep. Ha stated, citing the report. ��As of now, it is set in place that if North Korean residents hope to enter third countries, UNHCR procedures are followed in the spirit of humanitarianism and a respect for human rights."

The embassy��s response also addressed reports claiming Russia had reached an agreement with North Korea in September to repatriate defectors apprehended in its territory, asserting that no such decision had been made.

��The agreement is on how to handle the admission and transfer of individuals who have violated related immigration laws of the country in question. It is still undecided when the agreement will be signed,�� the Russian government offered in response.

��Russia confirmed there are no forced repatriations of North Korean defectors and this statement was made even despite Pyongyang's special envoy Secretary Choe Ryong Hae��s visit to the country,�� Ha continued. "I look forward to Russia's participation in  international efforts to mitigate humans rights violations in North Korea."

��We welcome Russia��s stance of approaching the defector issue from a humanitarian spirit and according to U.N. procedure," he stated, urging Russia to use ��sound judgement�� during the upcoming U.N. General Assembly and potential Security Council votes on North Korean human rights draft resolution, recently passed by the U.N. General Assembly's Third Committee.