No easy answers for China as refugee problem grows

HONG KONG -- There was biting irony behind the episode of the five North Koreans' seeking asylum at the Japanese Consulate in Shenyang, China, as well as the lingering diplomatic Sino-Japanese impasse over whether China infringed on Japanese sovereignty by taking the North Koreans into custody.

There was Japan, which has until now demonstrated little, if any, concern for the plight of refugees and asylum seekers, Korean or otherwise, suddenly feeling obliged to criticize both Chinese and Japanese officials for their indifference to human rights. At least the Japanese press and public are free to criticize.

There was China, which has until now demonstrated little, if any, concern for the estimated 200,000 to 300,000 refugees who have crossed from North Korea into northeastern China, suddenly being forced by the pressure of worldwide opinion to send the North Koreans to South Korea.