North Korea is considered to be one of the
worst countries in the world to live in.
With a totalitarian regime, extreme food scarcity,
rampant human rights abuses, and the constant
threat of being sent to a hard labor prison
camp for the rest of your life, it’s no
wonder so many North Koreans have attempted
to leave their home country.
Over the past half century, hundreds of thousands
of people have reportedly escaped from North
Korea, in spite of the extreme danger, and
repercussions should they be caught.
So, we wanted to know how exactly can someone
escape from North Korea?
Well, undoubtedly, it is not easy.
North Korea’s borders are very well guarded,
and neighbor South Korea, China, and Russia.
On the South Korean side is the famous DMZ
or demilitarized zone.
This is a 160 mile long and 2.5 mile wide
heavily guarded border, with barbed wire fences,
active landmines, guard outposts, and soldiers
on both sides.
Crossing into South Korea over the DMZ is
almost impossible for civilians, and inherently
deadly.
Almost exclusively soldiers have been the
ones to defect across this border.
Just in November 2017, a North Korean soldier
attempting to flee was shot at 40 times.
As of the filming of this episode, he was
on life support in a South Korean hospital,
and may not survive.
However, those that DO make it into the country
are sheltered by the South Korean government.
Defectors are even provided assistance in
terms of financial aid and housing, as well
as education, and treated as refugees and
South Korean citizens.
On the other side of the country is China,
which is one of North Korea’s few allies.
The China-North Korea border is much less
heavily guarded, and is often the preferred
route for defectors.
The Yalu river and the Tumen river cover much
of the border, and have large gaps in security.
Over the past 20 years, nearly 30,000 people
have crossed these rivers into China.
However, this method, while easier, is not
nearly as effective once on the other side.
Unlike South Korea, China does not welcome
North Korean refugees, and considers them
“illegal economic migrants”.
In fact, China is known to send refugees BACK
to North Korea, where they are imprisoned,
punished, and by many accounts, likely tortured.
It is common for North Korean defectors to
travel THROUGH China into other countries
that are less likely to send them back, such
as Thailand.
However this requires crossing Vietnam, Myanmar,
or Laos, all of which are likely to deport
North Korean migrants.
Another major difficulty in crossing into
either China or South Korea is that it is
incredibly expensive, especially for those
stuck in poverty.
A process known as “chain migration” necessitates
that you have a relative who has already escaped
and established themselves in a friendly country
first.
It is widely reported that there is an underground
network of traders and soldiers who will facilitate
an escape by showing defectors where to cross,
but the cost to do this, is estimated to be
around $12,000 dollars per person, which must
be paid in advance by someone living outside
North Korea.
And even after paying this amount, or even
more, there is no guarantee whatsoever that
the defector will get out safely.
Other options for escape necessitate taking
a boat from the eastern or western portions
of the country, to Japan or South Korea.
However, this route is incredibly dangerous,
as the seas are patrolled by the North Korean
navy.
In rare cases, some have managed to swim the
distance from North Korea to South Korea.
One final method is rare, and risky.
Many North Koreans are sent to labor camps
in other countries, particularly Russia.
It was estimated in 2006 that roughly 10,000
North Koreans live in Eastern Russia, many
of whom are believed to have escaped these
camps despite the intense security.
But no matter how a North Korean defector
makes it out of the country, the ordeal is
far from over.
Those who leave risk hurting their families
back home.
As punishment and to serve as a deterrent,
the North Korean government often imprisons
the families of defectors, forcing them into
hard labor, and extremely harsh, unforgiving
conditions.
According to a paper published by the Korea
Institute for National Unification, a warning
is given that any defectors will have three
generations of their families wiped out.
Whether that means prison or execution is
unclear.
In short, escaping North Korea is difficult,
dangerous, expensive, and isn’t over even
after making it to safety.
