At least 17 refugees have reached the South Korean embassy in Beijing and requested asylum. According to South Korean officials, at least 9 North Korean refugees climbed over the embassy wall early this morning and threw themselves into the embassy grounds. Previously, 8 other refugees had also reached this embassy. South Korea and China are negotiating the fate of the 17 North Korean nationals who have requested asylum inside the South Korean embassy in Beijing. Liu Jianchao, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated that the Chinese government will handle the matter in accordance with domestic laws and international humanitarian perspectives. China had previously requested South Korea to hand over the North Korean nationals inside its embassy. South Korea refuses to hand them over unless the Beijing government allows them to leave the country. Since March, at least 38 North Korean nationals have managed to go to South Korea after entering foreign embassies in China.
Request for Asylum by 17 Refugees at South Korean Embassy in Beijing - 2002-06-11
Seventeen refugees, including at least nine North Koreans, have sought asylum at the South Korean embassy in Beijing. Negotiations are ongoing between South Korea and China regarding their fate, with South Korea refusing to hand them over without guarantees for their departure. This situation highlights ongoing tensions surrounding North Korean refugees and international diplomatic relations.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Seventeen North Korean refugees sought asylum at the South Korean embassy in Beijing, with negotiations ongoing between South Korea and China regarding their fate. South Korea refuses to hand them over to China without guarantees for their safe departure.
- At least 17 North Korean refugees have requested asylum at the South Korean embassy in Beijing.
- This incident is part of a larger trend, with at least 38 North Korean nationals having entered South Korea through foreign embassies in China since March.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
North Korean defectors often seek asylum in foreign embassies due to the oppressive regime in North Korea, and their treatment can strain international relations.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%