재외 탈북자 보호 관련 국제법적 검토: 대량탈북 사태 시 대응방안을 포함하여

Abstract

The current number of North Korean Escapees is much smaller than before, so the concern towards them does not seem to be so serious like before. However, the number may rise in any time in the future for any reasons, and some contingency situation may produce a mass influx of North Koreans into neighbouring countries.
 Therefore, all the legal analyses applicable to the cases of North Korean Escapees are still required and need to be updated.
 This paper first reviews their refugee status, including the issue of dual nationality, and tries to utilise international human rights regime for these cases. Then, overview of various national practices relating to the protection of North Korean Escapees is conducted. Lastly, this paper looks into ways of international cooperation and coordination to deal with the possible mass influx case.
 In conclusion, most North Korean Escapees can be recognised as refugees under international refugee law, and, if not, they can at least be treated as humanitarian status holders. The question of dual nationality should be solved based on their free will and humanitarian consideration. For the limited purposes of refugee status determination, they need to be treated as North Koreans. As human beings, they can also be protected by various norms and mechanisms under international human rights law. At a contingency situation, ‘temporary protection’ may be provided to them as ‘displaced persons’ like in the EU, and more coordinated cooperation with UNHCR, IOM and neighbouring countries is critically needed.