Three North Koreans expelled from Nepal

Khabarhub

November 21, 2019

5 MIN READ

KATHMANDU: The government of Nepal expelled three North Korean nationals staying illegally in the country.

They, all computer engineers, who had come on a visit visa to Nepal, were staying here illegally even though their visas had expired on July 23.

The Department of Immigration (DoI) expelled them on August 13 this year in charge of overstaying in Nepal.

The three North Korean engineers had come to Nepal to work at a North Korean IT company ‘Himal Chiblo’ based in Satdobato of Lalitpur.

The three have been identified as Aan Pyoyoyang, Quan Jung Min and Quan Guk.

Sources have claimed that they had reached the Department of Immigration to acquaint themselves with the immigration rules after the government of Nepal took to strict measures against North Korean activities in the country.

The DoI then initiated the process of expulsion when they were found to be overstaying in Nepal.

No foreigner, besides an American citizen, coming to Nepal on a tourist visa can stay in Nepal for more than 150 days.

Director at the DoI, Ram Chandra Tiwari confirmed the expulsion of three North Koreans. “It’s a normal process to expel a foreigner on a charge of ‘overstay’,” he said adding, “Nationals of other countries will face the same fate if they overstay in Nepal.”

The DoI was, however, ignorant about the activities of these three North Korean nationals here.

Some engineers, who were working with a North Korean-operated IT company named Yong Bong Chand in Nepal, have already left the country.

Despite the UN Resolutions on North Korea sanctions, a significant number of North Koreans were working illegally in Nepal. Meanwhile, some Chinese companies operating in Nepal are learned to have hired around 20 North Korean workers without the knowledge of the Nepal government, sources have claimed.

A Dhading-based Chinese cement company is learned to have hired 20 North Korean workers on July 8. They came to Nepal on a visit visa. North Korean workers are preferred since they work on low wages, sources have claimed.

These 20 North Korean workers, however, could not work for a long time as the Chinese cement company suspended its production due to landslides in Dhading.

The North Korean Embassy in Nepal coordinated their return on September 8 and September 11, according to the DoI.

The government has already corresponded with the North Korean government to shut down all their businesses in Nepal.

It should be noted that Ne-Koryo Hospital established by North Korea at Damauli in Tanahun district has been shut down.

The hospital went packed up after the Nepal Medical Council (NMC) did not renew its license after having found that the doctors had been working here at the hospital without work-permit.

Khabarhub had published news headlined ‘Sans work permit, North Korean doctors work illegally in Nepal’ after they were found working without a work permit in a sensitive health-related field like a hospital on April 24.

The doctors had been working without work-permit here at the hospital. It is learned that doctors had come to Nepal on a tourist visa and had been working at the hospital.

Several restaurants operated by North Korean nationals have also pulled down their shutters after the government’s directives.

The Durbarmarga-based Botonggang Restaurant on the third floor of Rising Mall is still operating.

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