Police Quotas and Surveillance Entrap North Koreans in China

By Ju-min Park and Eduardo Baptista

SEOUL/BEIJING – Border enforcement in northeastern China has introduced quotas aimed at the identification and expulsion of undocumented migrants, significantly complicating the situation for North Korean defectors. This information emerges from previously unreleased official documents and insights from numerous sources familiar with the situation.

China has established new deportation centers, deployed hundreds of smart facial-recognition cameras, and increased boat patrols along its extensive 1,400-kilometer border with North Korea. This assessment is based on a review of over 100 publicly accessible government documents that detail expenditures on border security and infrastructure.

Additionally, Chinese authorities have begun closely monitoring the social media activities of North Koreans residing in China while collecting biometric data, including fingerprints, vocal patterns, and facial recognition information. According to Stephen Kim, a missionary assisting North Korean defectors, over 90% of those currently in China have submitted personal and biometric data to the police, based on his interactions with about 2,000 defectors.

These measures were largely implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and have intensified in 2023.

The crackdown on unauthorized migration is seen by Beijing as a way to handle its complicated relationship with Pyongyang while ensuring stability along its borders. This strategy also potentially offers China leverage over North Korea, as Beijing can influence the fates of these undocumented migrants. Experts note that China fears a mass exodus of North Koreans into its territory could eventually destabilize North Korea and lead to reunification with South Korea, which could enhance U.S. political and military presence in the region.

China’s National Immigration Administration and the Ministry of Public Security did not respond to requests for comments regarding their efforts to identify and deport North Koreans. In response to inquiries, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry stated that China is committed to protecting the rights of foreigners while maintaining order at its borders and labeled the reports as inaccurate.

While the documents do not specifically target North Koreans for these surveillance and deportation efforts, the policies are primarily focused on areas adjacent to North Korea. Little evidence has emerged of similar actions along China’s other borders, aside from its border with Myanmar, which has seen increased measures against organized crime.

Reports indicate a significant increase in repatriations, with around 48,000 Myanmar nationals returned from China in a recent timeframe, highlighting collaborative efforts for border stability.

Among the documents analyzed was the 2024 budget for China’s border police in Jilin province, which shares a border with North Korea. Of the 163 million yuan allocated, nearly 30 million yuan was earmarked for border security improvements, including new patrol boats. Quotas were set for border police stations, requiring them to handle at least 10 undocumented migrants each and ensuring deportation processes are completed within 30 days.

Construction of a deportation facility began in Dandong, while another is proposed for Changchun. Furthermore, a surveillance system designed to enhance facial recognition capabilities was contracted in March, with installations planned at crossings commonly used by defectors.

China’s handling of North Korean refugees as illegal economic migrants leads to significant deportation risks, according to human rights organizations. Over the past two years, around 70% of defectors attempting to reach South Korea have been intercepted by Chinese police, a sharp rise from about 20% previously.

As the total number of defectors arriving in South Korea has decreased since 2017, the South Korean government is reportedly working hard to prevent China from forcibly returning these individuals.

Experts indicate that while both China and North Korea aim to limit defector flows, Beijing’s control over the outcomes for these defectors offers it a strategic diplomatic leverage point given North Korea’s dependence on China and strengthening ties with Russia.

Some defectors express heightened fears due to intensified surveillance measures. The adoption of widespread facial-recognition technology has made movement increasingly precarious. Personal accounts reveal that some individuals, pressured to register their biometric information with authorities, later regretted their compliance.

Ultimately, one defector managed to evade detection by not registering her data, instead opting to escape to Vietnam, from where she continued her journey to South Korea.