Most S.Koreans Condemn N.Korea's Human Rights Abuses

South Koreans overwhelmingly condemn the North Korean regime's human rights abuses but are not prepared to welcome refugees from the repressive state under all circumstances, a survey suggests.

The Database Center for North Korean Human Rights published the survey of 1,000 South Koreans on Thursday. Some 85.4 percent of the respondents said the human rights situation in North Korea is "serious," and only 10.9 percent that it is not.

But their willingness to help North Koreans only goes so far, with 49.8 percent saying the South should accept a limited number of North Korean refugees in the event of major unrest there, while only 35.6 percent said all North Korean refugees should be allowed to come here. That is a significant switch from the same survey a year ago, where 49.6 percent supported admitting all refugees versus 38.1 percent supporting a limited influx.

When asked what is the best way to persuade North Korea to improve its human rights record, 36.3 percent ticked "international pressure" and 33.8 percent "continued dialogue and support."