North Korean Defectors: An Overview

Escaping from North Korea

• Statistics on Escapees:
  • 2009: 2,914 people escaped
  • 2019: 1,047 people escaped
  • 2022: 67 people escaped
• Current Situation:
  • Escaping is now considered virtually impossible.

Border Control and Restrictions

• COVID-19 Impact:
  • Borders closed with reinforced fences and guard posts since early 2020.
• Government Control:
  • Control heightened under Kim Jong-un since 2011, especially along northern borders with China and Russia.
  • Reports of landmines placed along Tumen and Yalu rivers since late 2021.
• Border Features:
  • Heavy fencing (462 miles) and watchtowers implemented.
  • Guards ordered to shoot anyone entering security zones.
  • Drones used to search for weak spots along the border.

Escape Routes

Northern Border

• Crossing the Rivers:
  • Yalu and Tumen Rivers serve as the main escape routes.
  • Risks include drowning and facing armed patrols.
  • Many defectors are unprepared for the dangers of crossing wild rivers.

Southern Border

• Demilitarized Zone (DMZ):
  • Heavily guarded, 155 miles long, around 2.5 miles wide.
  • Contains mines, barbed wire, and watchtowers.

Legal Travel Restrictions

• Illegal Travel Consequences:
  • Leaving North Korea without permission is a crime, punishable by a minimum of 5 years hard labor.
• Legal Travel:
  • Very restricted; only a select few can legally travel abroad (diplomats, elite students, etc.).

Common Escape Strategies

• Crossing into China:
  • Most common route involves crossing the border into China.
  • Defectors often aim for South Korea, traveling through third countries like Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.
• Cost of Escape:
  • In 2009: approximately $2,800
  • Current cost: about $9,300 for crossing the border.
  • Total to reach South Korea: around $14,000.

Challenges Faced by Defectors

• Crossing the Gobi Desert:
  • Dangerous journey after leaving China, with extreme temperatures and risk of capture.
• Maritime Escapes:
  • Sea escape considered most dangerous; faces patrols, weather issues, and substandard boats.
• Unique Cases:
  • Some defectors have swum across the sea or river, but these are rare.

Recent Trends in Defections

• Impact of the Pandemic:
  • Defections decreased significantly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Defectors Recorded:
  • 2020: 67 defectors
  • 2021: 63 defectors
  • 2022: 67 defectors
• Change in Demographics:
  • Increase in defectors in 2023; 196 registered, often having lived in third countries first.

Cultural Significance

• North Korean Defectors Day:
  • Established on July 14th in South Korea to celebrate defectors.
  • First festival took place in 2024.
• South Korean Defector Population:
  • Over 34,000 defectors currently living in South Korea.

Conclusion

• Overall Situation:
  • The number of defectors has drastically decreased, and escaping from North Korea remains highly challenging.