As in other countries, the problem of North Korean refugees together with that of Pyongyang's nuclear development has caused keen interest in Japan. China and North Korea are separated only by a border consisting of two rivers. North Korea's never-ending food crisis has led tens of thousands of North Koreans to cross the rivers.

China and North Korea have long maintained friendly ties. Their guarding of their boarder has not been strict. Once North Koreans cross the Duman (Tumen in Chinese) River and the Yalu River, they can expect help from Koreans living in China.

The refugee problem is a big headache for China. The Chinese government has assisted North Korea, whose food and energy crises are chronic, economically. Despite North Korean pressure to return refugees to Pyongyang, China has halfheartedly dealt with the problem and has not been serious in cracking down on them.

Yet, the problem has been exposed under the international spotlight since an incident at the Japanese consulate general in Shengyang which occurred in May last year. Fearful of possibly undermining the country's image in the world, China has begun exercising strict control over the refugees.

China not only has strengthened its boarder patrols, but has also placed under strict surveillance Koreans who are providing support to refugees from behind the scenes. There are 2.2 million Koreans living in northeast China. Nearly half of them live in the area along the Duman and Yalu rivers. Most of them either escaped from Japanese colonial rule before World War II or are their descendants. They take it for granted that they should help their countrymen who flee North Korea. Recalling their past, they are deeply moved by the refugees who have similar fates.

Now, however, they can no longer lend assistance to their countrymen as they are under the strict observation of the Chinese government and public security police. Beijing imposes heavy fines on those who help or hide in their homes refugees who cross the border. The fines amount to half their annual income. The public security police hold and interrogate supporters even if they just help the refugees meet members of foreign non-governmental organizations that assist North Koreans escaping from Pyongyang. The more serious the refugee issue becomes, the more Koreans in China are in dilemma.

No matter how severely China cracks down refugees, the effect is limited as long as there is no change in the current situation in North Korea. Japan should regard the matter as its own problem and it is a high time for the international community to come up with measures that can deal with this problem.

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The author is director of the New Asian Development and Research Center, a Tokyo-based think tank. (January 31, 2003)