Chinese public security has been issuing temporary residence permits, a new type of surveillance system for North Korean refugee women in China.

The temporary residence permit was issued mainly in areas where only Han Chinese live. In the region where the temporary permit was first approved, about 100 North Korean refugee women were in the area, and Chinese people protested that it would be a big problem for Chinese families if defectors were caught. They have protested to local public security, saying, "It’s so serious that it would stop the breeding of Chinese people." These complaints were accepted, and a temporary residence permit to reside in the area was issued.

However, this is not a nationwide project, and in fact, many public security officials are unaware of this permit. Public security registration procedures vary by region. The registration fee varies widely, ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 Chinese yuan in the six areas surveyed. Moreover, in economically difficult areas, public security searches for hiding refugees and forces them to register. If they don't register, public security threatens them that their Chinese husbands will be sent to jail, forcing them to come to the public security office with money as a fine to register.

With the document, they can get a job in the region and use a bus or taxi, but travel is limited only to that area. Most importantly, medical care services for these women are still impossible with the permit. In addition, Chinese public security inspects the cell phones of registered refugee women two to three times a month. The surveillance mainly focuses on whether there are phone calls or text messages with someone in South Korea.

It can be seen that the temporary residence permit issued at the request of the Han Chinese in China is not something that ensures the safe living of North Korean refugee women but for the Han Chinese husband and/or family for reassurance. The Chinese authorities are establishing a more systematic surveillance system for North Korean defectors. In this process, North Korean refugee women live under new forms of threat and surveillance, different from the existing anxiety that they had to live without any documents.

Even if a free life is guaranteed in the future, it may become more difficult for female defectors in China to escape from their place of residence due to regular cell phone surveillance. And since it is not a guarantee of permanent residence in China but is still subject to be repatriated at any time, North Korean refugee women will continue to suffer from psychological anxiety.