Abstract
The North Korean refugee crisis merits significant international attention because these people are the most vulnerable group and the silent victims in our international community of the last few decades. Their government does not have the ability to protect its citizens.
It is a question of State Sovereignty as to whether China recognizes North Koreans as refugees or not and provides them with humanitarian relief. China argues that North Koreans are not refugees, forcibly repatrates them, and blocks UNHCR and Humanitarian workers' access to protect them.
The aim of this thesis is to explore the duties of China as a pertaining the non-refoulement and human rights standards according to the theory of State responsibility. It will also endevour to discuss the North Koreans' human rights situation and their refugee eligibility in a bid to support North Koreans' refugee claims and protect them from forcible repatriation.