Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-05-24-Speech-4-406-000"
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"en.20120524.25.4-406-000"2
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"− Mr President, honourable Members, the situation on the Korean Peninsula presents many different concerns and challenges for the international community. These problems – regional tensions, illegal weapons programmes, human rights abuses – are interlinked and all warrant close attention from the EU.
Following the death of Kim Jong-il in December and the purported satellite launch in April, the focus in recent months has been heavily on the political succession in the DPRK and on regional security issues. However, we should not lose sight of the appalling human rights situation within the country. This is an issue on which the EU has for many years spoken out and played an active role, both at the United Nations and in our bilateral dialogue with the DPRK Government.
As the draft resolution reminds us, outside the DPRK’s borders in neighbouring countries, there are also human rights concerns which merit our attention. The EU is seriously concerned about the forcible repatriation of North Korean asylum seekers and refugees. The EU realises very well that these DPRK citizens may face detention, torture and even execution upon their return.
For the EU, as a matter of principle, it is important that all countries fulfil their commitments under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. Under these texts, adhering countries have specifically obliged themselves to refrain from returning people to their country of origin in cases where they might face the death penalty or torture, an obligation that already exists in general under customary international law.
Therefore the EU has been raising this issue with China, in particular in the framework of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. As you know, China does not recognise the North Korean citizens entering its territory as refugees and regards them as economic migrants. We will continue to use every occasion to persuade the Chinese authorities to change this assessment. The next round of the human rights dialogue is scheduled for 29 May; this is less than a week from now.
The European Union, as a global political actor, will continue to follow all aspects of the situation on the Peninsula, working in close collaboration with its various strategic partners."@en1
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