The Chinese government asked the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) not to accept North Korean defectors for asylum status until the end of the Beijing Olympics to be held in August, according to a report.
The U.S.-funded media Voice of America (VOA) said the Beijing government threatened not to issue exit visas for current North Korean defectors in China if the UNHCR accepts more defectors.
``According to sources, the UNHCR seems to have given implied consent because the organization has not accepted any North Korean defector since it accommodated seven defectors last July,'' VOA said.
About 17 North Korean defectors live in apartments in China in several groups under the protection of the UNHCR, and some of them who are scheduled to go to the United States are offered an English lesson twice a week, the report said.
The defectors expressed gratitude to the UNHCR for its assistance in providing housing and satellite TV.
China has become more sensitive to North Korean defectors since international media covered the UNHCR helping them move to a third country last December.
A group of U.S. lawmakers plan to send a letter to Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, calling for his support in moving defectors under the protection of the UNHCR to a third country.
According to the draft letter, lawmakers criticized Beijing's violation of international agreements. Although the UNHCR does its best to protect defectors, the Chinese government restricts the organization's activities.
Furthermore, lawmakers said in the letter that there is no reason for the Chinese government not to issue exit visas for defectors under protection of the UNHCR.
The number of North Korean defectors has been increasing in recent years, with over 1,000 North Koreans defecting to South Korea, via China or Southeast Asian nations every year.
At least 11,000 North Koreans have defected to the South since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.
Defectors can obtain full citizenship here when they complete a two-month education course at the Hanawon resettlement facility in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province.
