China appears no closer to revising its position on returning North Korean defectors who cross into its territory, rejecting international concerns about the fate of refugees in its territory.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing on Thursday that her country has “no such thing as political asylum.”

“With regard to the illegal border-crossers from North Korea, we are obliged to deal with the relevant issue in accordance with international laws, internal laws of China as well as humanitarian principles,” Hua said.

China labels tens of thousands of North Korean migrants in its territory as “economic refugees,” for