In recent weeks China has been praised for its support of international sanctions against its neighbor, North Korea. But those measures were imposed by the United Nations Security Council solely for nuclear non-proliferation concerns – not because of Pyongyang’s appalling human rights record. In fact, the Security Council resolution references the “grave hardship” that the people of North Korea face – but makes no mention of human rights. And it’s been quite some time since Beijing commented on the human rights situation in North Korea.
So when China did speak this week – at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, in response to a report by the special rapporteur on North Korea, Marzuki Darusman – it was merely to make the same tired efforts to shield Pyongyang from criticism. Darusman detailed the UN Commission of Inquiry’s documentation of past and ongoing crimes against humanity in North Korea, noted that nothing had changed within the country, and stressed the importance of meaningful accountability mechanisms that would deter further abuses.
China – impervious to the gross suffering of millions of North Koreans – ignored it all. For Beijing, the discussion about human rights in North Korea constituted “politicization,” and it continues to oppose country-specific initiatives on human rights at the Human Rights Council. This serves to protect/shield both China and North Korea from essential international scrutiny.
Perhaps stung by reporting on China’s complicity in human rights violations of North Koreans, China also insisted that the special rapporteur’s report contained “factual inaccuracies” – according to Beijing, North Koreans in China aren’t refugees or asylum seekers, they are “illegal aliens,” and “violators of international law.” China’s refusal to allow asylum seekers access to the refugee status determination process went unmentioned, as did China’s pathology of forcibly returning North Koreans to face the prospect of torture and possible death.
China has shown that it has a clear interest in what takes place in North Korea. But Chinese officials still need to recognize the grotesque abuses against North Koreans, to open the door to all those fleeing repression, and to back efforts to bring violators of international law to justice. Then we’ll know Beijing has really changed its tune.
