Mongolia has become a popular destination for Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) – or North Korean – defectors seeking refuge since the mid-1990s. As a signatory to the UN Human Rights Convention, Mongolia is bound by international law to welcome these refugees regardless of their diplomatic relations with the DPRK. However, amidst the delicate geopolitical landscape and heightened tensions between the two Koreas, Mongolia must act cautiously to maintain diplomatic equilibrium. Taking these refugees and sending them to the Republic of Korea (ROK) – or South Korea – would trigger their diplomatic relationship with the state. Striking a balance between humanitarian obligations and diplomatic considerations remains a delicate challenge for Mongolia.
Mongolia’s relationship with Korea
Since Korea’s partition, Mongolia has maintained longer diplomatic ties with the DPRK than the ROK. When the DPRK was established in 1948, Mongolia became the second nation to recognize the DPRK’s sovereignty after the Soviet Union. Due to their shared socialist goals, both nations gained independence with the assistance of the Soviet Union. Although Mongolia did not directly participate in the Korean War, it provided humanitarian aid helping alleviate the hardships that the DPRK faced during the conflict. Mongolia then maintained a positive engagement with the DPRK until the late 1990s. 
With Mongolia’s transition to democracy, it established diplomatic relations with the ROK. Mongolia sought economic aid from the ROK following the sudden end of Soviet investment. Mongolia implemented a “third neighbour strategy” aimed at reducing the economic dominance of Russia and China, seeking relations with other countries. 
Despite their relatively new relationship, the ROK has become the fourth largest trade partner of Mongolia. The ROK sees Mongolia as having complementary value: the ROK is an energy-importing nation with advanced technologies, and Mongolia has abundant natural resources. Furthermore, notions of K-wave and Korean Wind had a mass cultural and social impact among Mongolians since their market transition.
North Korean refugees in Mongolia
Mongolia possesses the capacity to facilitate upcoming summits between the DPRK and the United States. Its involvement in key events like the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue, the Asia-Europe Meeting in 2016, and the 2014 gathering concerning Japanese abductees underscores its diplomatic experience and potential. However, Mongolia faces a significant challenge in the ongoing conflict between the two Koreas. While Mongolia and the ROK share democratic values and human rights principles, the authoritarian regime in the DPRK presents challenges to sustaining long-lasting diplomatic ties.
One significant factor contributing to this instability is Mongolia’s handling of DPRK refugees. Usually, DPRK defectors in Mongolia are sent to the US or ROK. The ROK has received approximately 31,000 DPRK defectors since the 1950s. Many of these defectors crossed into China before reaching a third country (Mongolia) en route to the ROK. However, these immigrants also include diplomatic officials, so it is challenging to estimate how many of them are refugees. Mongolia’s inconsistent approach to handling DPRK refugees underscores its struggle to balance its commitment to democratic values with its diplomatic agenda involving all nations, including the DPRK.
To gain insight into the significance of these crossings, I discussed with three individuals who have firsthand experience with the DPRK refugee process in Mongolia. Interviewee 1 is a well-known YouTuber and author based in the US who escaped from the DPRK to the US. I asked how Mongolia assisted them in reaching the ROK, and about their experience in Mongolia. They recounted that Mongolian border soldiers would engage in games of psychological manipulation, threatening to repatriate them to China or the DPRK. The soldiers did not adhere to proper protocol as dictated by their laws and regulations. Nevertheless, they were ultimately sent to the ROK.
Interviewee 2, is currently a border customs inspector stationed at the pivotal border crossing between Mongolia and China, located in Zamiin Uud, in Dornogovi province. During our discussion, I asked about their experiences witnessing DPRK refugees crossing Mongolia’s border. They said that typically refugees would illegally cross during the night when inspection points are closed. They highlighted that it was the soldiers’ responsibility to manage these crossings. After inquiring about Interviewee 1’s negative experience with Mongolian soldiers, the inspector did not deny it. They said it was highly likely that soldiers could become bored in the desolate borderlands and may have mistreated the refugees as a result. 
The final subject was a Mongolian border soldier who provided crucial insights. They shared a specific incident from 2006 when they single-handedly assisted three refugees. They noted that diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the DPRK seemed strained during that time. Border soldiers were instructed to escort refugees to official stations, where they underwent questioning before being handed to the ROK embassy. From there, the ROK assumed responsibility for their onward journey from Mongolia. 
Interviewee 1’s escape to Mongolia in 2007 and subsequent transfer to the ROK serves as a notable example of successful refugee resettlement. Regarding the treatment of refugees, while crossing the border, the soldier acknowledged instances of both positive and negative encounters. While Interviewee 1 is known to be an unreliable source in the US due to their political activism and inconsistent stories, both Mongolian officials hinted at the possibility of negative incidents occurring occasionally in the past. Some Mongolians are in denial about such testimonies, asserting that Mongolian soldiers would not point a gun at innocent people. Others argue that it is expected for defectors to face negative treatment in any country if they illegally cross their border.
In conclusion, for a country like Mongolia with little strategic power, remaining neutral in global conflicts and issues is critical in maintaining diplomatic relations. Being one of the few countries that has maintained a friendly relationship with the DPRK, Mongolia has safeguarded its capacity to mitigate potential tensions on the Korean Peninsula. However, as democratisation and expanded trade elevate the ROK’s significance as a partner in economic and cultural domains, Mongolia faces the challenge of harmonising its economic aspirations. Mongolia can enhance its international reputation and create more peace opportunities by maintaining a neutral stance and skillfully balancing relations with both Koreas.
By Effy Bat-Erdene

Published Date:2025-04-05