韩国计划呼吁联合国帮助在华朝鲜难民

South Korea says it will raise the issue of North Korean defectors detained in China at a United Nations meeting next week.A Foreign Ministry spokesperson says the government will go before the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva to pressure Beijing not to repatriate several North Koreans who fled their homeland. About 30 North Korean defectors were captured by Chinese authorities earlier this month.

South Korean human rights activists gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul Monday, where they heard a moving appeal from Soh Kyung-suk, co-chairman of a group called Christian Social said it is not possible to stand by while innocent North Korean defectors are carried off to likely execution. Human rights activists agree that once repatriated, the defectors face harsh punishment and even death.韩国说，计划下周在联合国会议上提出被中国关押的朝鲜叛逃者的问题。韩国外交通商部发言人说，韩国政府将在日内瓦的联合国难民署强力要求中国不要遣返叛逃的朝鲜人。本月早些时候，大约30名朝鲜叛逃者被中国当局扣押。

星期一，韩国人权活动人士聚集在中国驻首尔大使馆前。他们在那里听取了“基督教社会责任”团体联合主席徐京锡动人的声援讲话。徐京锡说，当无辜的朝鲜叛逃者被带走并可能被处决时，人们不可能无动于衷。人权活动人士一致认为，一旦被遣返，这些叛逃者将面临严酷处罚，甚至被处以死刑。