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significant international concern. Beijing, under agreements
from the 1960s and a 1988 decree with Pyongyang, categorizes
these escapees as illegal immigrants and routinely conducts
deportation. These repatriated individuals, predominantly
females, face severe human rights abuses upon their return to
North Korea, including forced labor, torture, sexual violence,
incarceration in political prison camps, and execution.
Additionally, the profound emotional and psychological
trauma experienced by mothers, separated from their China-
born children, underscores a grave violation of international
human rights law concerning forced family separation. Given
the severity of these abuses, it is imperative to prioritize
three key actions: advocating for the safety and rights of
repatriated North Korean escapees, urging China to cease
further repatriations, and preventing the separation of escapee
mothers from their children in China.

Exploitation of Overseas Workers

The exploitation of North Korean overseas labor also warrants
international scrutiny. Prior to COVID-19 restrictions,
an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 North Korean laborers
were dispatched to overseas countries as a source of foreign
revenue. Predominantly stationed in Russia and China, a
significant number of North Korean laborers work long
hours under strenuous conditions, often 12 to 16 hours a
day. Despite earning monthly wages of between $300 and
$1000, a substantial portion (70% to 90%) of their salaries is
confiscated by the North Korean government.

Chapter Six : Unveiling the North Korean Human Rights Quandary 93