Seoul
The South Korean government had to close its embassy in Beijing temporarily this week after the compound was overrun by North Koreans seeking asylum. Thousands of starving North Koreans flee to China each year, and most of them are deported back to the Stalinist state to face the wrath of Kim Jong Il’s brutal regime. But those who make it to a consulate or embassy are able to emigrate to South Korea. Over the past year, a growing number of North Koreans have been scaling embassy fences in Beijing or simply rushing past Chinese guards. This week the South Korean Embassy said it could no longer function with scores of refugees camped out on the floor. It will remain closed until officials can move them to Seoul.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Home Depots are the new epicenters of ICE raidsIn the Spotlight The chain has not provided many comments on the ongoing raids
-
Why does Trump keep interfering in the NYC mayoral race?Today's Big Question The president has seemingly taken an outsized interest in his hometown elections, but are his efforts to block Zohran Mamdani about political expediency or something deeper?
-
The pros and cons of banning cellphones in classroomsPros and cons The devices could be major distractions
