“Korea and China Negotiating Countermeasures for Trafficking Defectors”

[imText1]It was revealed that Ambassador John Miller Director of the U.S. State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons is undergoing negotiations with Korea, China, other related governments and NGO’s in discussion to resolve the issue pertaining to trafficking of defectors.

Ambassador John Miller claimed that the North Korean and Chinese government needs to clearly recognize that defectors being trafficked should not be victims of punishment but rather subject to protection.

In an interview on the 6th with VOA (Voice of America) Ambassador Miller asserted “The fact that defectors have been trafficked throughout the past few years and the fact that it has not been stopped and still continues unto today is very unfortunate.”

He revealed “It is estimated that thousands of defectors are being trafficked. In particular, women and children are being sold as wives to Chinese men or unlicensed bars through slave trade agencies.”

Furthermore, he explained that the case of slave trade in North Korea is known to be particularly unique throughout the world as “Defectors from North Korea have such innocent desires to leave the country that they easily fall into the prey of trafficking.”

Ambassador Miller on the front of resolving this issue said “Negotiations with China are not advancing as much as desired. It is anticipated that through international agreements, China will take a more humanitarian approach.”

In reply to what the most urgent actions needed, he said “North Korea and China need to realize that the issue of trafficking defectors is serious and that these victims are the ones in need of protection.”

He added “We are aware of the instances where defectors as victims of trafficking are sent back to North Korea and sentenced to punishment. We are also aware that a great number of these victims are repatriated back to North Korea through the assistance of Chinese authorities.”

Ambassador Miller showed a positive response to Jay Lefkowitz, U.S. Special Envoy on Human Rights in North Korea and his visit to Gaesung Industrial Complex.

He urged “The issue is whether the workers within Gaesung Industrial Complex are receiving an appropriate wage, are given freedom and in essence whether or not they are victims of trafficking.”