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Antonio Guterres, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said on Thursday that even those North Koreans who crossed the border for purely economic reasons would be in grave danger if they were returned to their country and therefore need to be seen as refugees. The Commissioner made these remarks in a press conference after concluding his itinerary in China, before heading back to Geneva.
That is interpreted as a roundabout remark that the Chinese government should treat North Korean defectors as refugees who are seeking asylum. However, through a briefing by the Foreign Ministry spokesman on Tuesday, the Chinese government reaffirmed that they can not recognize North Korean defectors as refugees, referring to them as ˇ°illegal migrants who enter into Chinese territory.ˇ±
The visit by the head of UNHCR to China is the first in 10 years, Guterres focused on meeting with officials who are related to refugee issue, including State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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