More than 200 Australian visas have been issued to North Koreans in the past five financial years, the Department of Immigration has revealed.
In the past 12 months alone, at least 25 visas, most of them Temporary Resident visas, have been issued to citizens of the rogue state, and only 25 visas have been refused over the past five financial years.
The figures have been released just weeks after a 59-year-old Australian man was charged with brokering and discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction.
North Korean citizens have been issued more than 200 visas to Australians over the past five years, figures from the Department of Immigration and Border Security reveal
Chan Han Choi, 59, was allegedly in contact with ‘high-ranking officials’ within the North Korean regime attempting to transport oil and coal, and provide military expertise.
He was also accused of selling missile components, including software for guidance weapons.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection were asked for information on North Koreans granted visas to Australia by Labor Senator Kim Carr, on behalf of Shadow Immigration Minister, Shayne Neumann, in October.
Their answer revealed North Koreans had been issued Student, Temporary Resident (other), Temporary Resident (skilled), Visitor and Skilled Independent Visas over the past 12 months.
North Korean citizens must meet specified public interest criteria to enter Australia, the Department’s answer noted.
These include considerations of foreign policy interests, weapons of mass destruction proliferation, national security and character.
The visa figures come just weeks after Australian man Chan Han Choi, 59, was arrested and charged with brokering and discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction
Chan Han Choi, 59, was allegedly in contact with ‘high-ranking officials’ within the North Korean regime attempting to transport oil and coal, and provide military expertise
In October, the Pyongyang regime criticised Australia for supporting the US and South Korea, labelling the nation’s actions ‘dangerous’, and warning if they continued, Australia will not be able to ‘avoid disaster’.
The rogue state has also made headlines globally over the past few months for an increasingly frequent number of missile tests, and has reportedly successfully tested a new missile capable of hitting virtually anywhere in the world.
The country ended a 10-week pause in its weapons testing in November when it fired off a Hwasong-15 rocket – its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile yet which the regime claimed could be fitted with a ‘super heavy nuclear warhead’.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Immigration and Border Security and Labor MP Shayne Neumann’s office for comment.
North Koreans have been issued Student, Temporary Resident (other), Temporary Resident (skilled), Visitor and Skilled Independent Visas over the past 12 months
North Korea has made headlines globally over the past few months for an increasingly frequent number of missile tests, and has reportedly successfully tested a new missile capable of hitting virtually anywhere in the world