The Devastating Consequence of Repatriation Policies For North Korean refugee mothers in South Korea, the painful reality of having their children left behind in China is a direct result of relentless forced repatriation policies. These policies force mothers into heart-wrenching decisions for the sake of survival, creating a chasm between them and their offspring.

A Vulnerable Generation: Children Left Unprotected With their mothers either forcibly sent back to North Korea or seeking refuge in South Korea, countless children face dire circumstances. Alone and unprotected, many find themselves in orphanages, while others fall prey to the dark world of human trafficking.

Reunion: A Dream Denied The yearning of a mother to hold her child again is a powerful force. Yet, the bureaucratic barriers, intensified by the ever-present shadow of repatriation policies, make reunions nearly impossible. This not only infringes on the fundamental human rights of these families but also leaves emotional scars that linger for a lifetime.

The Ripple Effect: Transgenerational Trauma The trauma induced by forced separations doesn't end with the mothers and children directly affected. It extends across generations, with the pain and distress carried forward, underscoring the urgency for international intervention and policy reform.

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In China, while mothers live under constant threat of repatriation, their children experience constant separation anxiety, fearing that their mother will leave them. 87% of North Korean women in China surveyed have given birth. 79% of North Korean women in China have children in China (an average of 1.37). 36% of North Korean women have given birth to children in North Korea, with an average of 1.4 children, and 28% of those surveyed have children in both China and North Korea. These statistics illustrate how many North Korean women and their children are at risk of being forcibly separated due to the forced repatriation policy.

One of the biggest challenges for North Korean women is separation from their children. Sixty percent of Chinese husbands in South Korea have experienced separation from their children, either during the process of entering South Korea (74%) or due to their wife's forced repatriation (14%). Thirteen percent said they were separated from their children because they traveled long distances to earn money to avoid repatriation. In 58% of cases, the separation lasted more than a year.

When North Korean women are unexpectedly repatriated or travel to South Korea without discussing it with their husbands, mothers and children are separated very abruptly, causing emotional distress. The children are hurt because they believe they have been abandoned by their mother.

In fact, according to one witness, there was a case where a relative said, "Your mom went and abandoned you, and your mom is the mom who went and abandoned you." This is not just one case, but in a survey of actual Chinese husbands and wives, half said they had heard of such cases.

When a mother separates from her child, especially if the child is young or there is a lack of communication, the child may feel abandoned by her mother. This can lead to the child's own rejection when you try to invite them to Korea if they feel hurt by their mother. Even after the child arrives safely in South Korea, if the parent and child have been separated for a long time, the reunification process can reopen old wounds and cause new ones. This policy of forced repatriation is one of the biggest causes of long-term relationship instability for North Korean mothers and their children.