North Korean defectors Hangul 탈북자 Hanja 脫北者 Revised Romanization Talbukja McCune–Reischauer T'albukcha

Since the division of Korea after World War II and the end of the Korean War (1950–1953), some North Koreans have managed to defect for political, ideological, religious and economic reasons.

Since the North Korean famine of the 1990s, more North Koreans have defected.[1] The usual strategy is to cross the border into Jilin and Liaoning provinces in northeast China before fleeing to a third country, due to China being a close ally of North Korea. China, being the biggest of few economic partners of North Korea while the country has been under U.N. sanctions for decades,[2] is also the largest and continuous aid source of the country. To avoid worsening the already tense relations of the Korea Peninsula, China refuses to grant North Korean defectors refugee status and considers them illegal economic migrants.[3] About 76% to 84% of defectors interviewed in China or South Korea came from the Northeastern provinces bordering China.[4] If the defectors are caught in China, they are repatriated back to North Korea to face harsh interrogations and years of punishment, or even death in political prison camps such as Yodok camp or reeducation camps such as Chungsan camp or Chongori camp.[5][6]

A prominent defection occurred shortly after the signing of the armistice at the end of the Korean War, on September 21, 1953, when 21-year-old No Kum-Sok, a senior lieutenant in the North Korean air force, flew his MiG-15 to the South. His act, affiliated with Operation Moolah, was considered an intelligence bonanza because his fighter plane was the best in the Communist bloc. No was awarded a sum of $100,000 or ₩13,170,200 and the right to reside in the United States. An offer to return the MiG was ignored. The aircraft is now on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio.[7][8]

Contents Terms 1

Demographics 2

By destination 3 China 3.1 Japan 3.2 Mongolia 3.3 Philippines 3.4 Russia 3.5 Europe 3.6 South Korea 3.7 Reward 3.7.1 Resettlement 3.7.2 Statistics 3.7.3 Status of North Korean Defectors Entering South Korea (2015.5) 3.7.3.1 Thailand 3.8 Laos 3.9 United States 3.10 Vietnam 3.11 Canada 3.12

Double defectors 4

See also 5

Fiction and non-fiction works 6

References 7

External links 8 Web sites 8.1 8.2 Articles Media 8.3



Terms

Different terms, official and unofficial, refer to North Korean refugees. On 9 January 2005, the South Korean Ministry of Unification announced the use of saeteomin (새터민, lit. "people of new land") instead of talbukja ("people who fled the North"), a term about which North Korean officials expressed displeasure.[9] A newer term is bukhanitaljumin (hangul: 북한이탈주민 hanja: 北韓離脫住民), which has the more forceful meaning of "residents who renounced North Korea".[10]

Demographics

Since 1953, 100,000–300,000 North Koreans have defected, most of whom have fled to Russia or China.[11] Some 27,000 have defected to South Korea.[12][13]

Based on a study of South Korean defectors, women make up the majority of defections. In 2002 they comprised 55.5% of defections to South Korea (1,138 people) and by 2011 the number had grown to 70.5% (2,706 people). More women leave the North because, as the bread-winners of the family, they are more likely to suffer financial hardships. This is due to the prevalence of women in service sector jobs whereas men are employed in the military—33% of defectors cited economic reasons as most important. Men, in contrast, had a higher tendency to leave the country due to political, ideological or surveillance pressure.[14]

By destination

Typical routes to South Korea by North Korean defectors are through China and South-East Asia.

China

As of 2012 there were an estimated 200,000 North Koreans hiding in China[15] making them the largest population outside of North Korea. These refugees are not typically considered to be members of the ethnic Korean community, and the Chinese census does not count them as such. Some North Korean refugees who are unable to obtain transport to South Korea marry ethnic Koreans in China and settle there; they blend into the community but are subject to deportation if discovered by the authorities. Those who have found 'escape brokers', try to enter the South Korean consulate in Shenyang. In recent years, the Chinese government has tightened the security and increased the number of police outside the consulate.

Today there are new ways of getting into South Korea. One is to follow the route to the Mongolian border; another is the route to southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, who welcome the North Korean defectors.[16]

During the mid 1990s, the percentages of male and female defectors were relatively balanced.[17] In early to mid-1990s, male labor was valuable since North Korean defectors could work in Chinese countrysides and factories and secure hideout in return.[17] However, due to rising social security issues including crime and violence involving North Koreans, the value of male labor decreased.[17] Females, on the other hand, were able to find easier means of settlement including performing smaller labor tasks and getting married to Chinese locals.[17] As of today, 80-90% of North Korean defectors residing in China are females who settled through de facto marriage and a large number of them experience forced marriage and human trafficking.[17][18]

Before 2009, over 70% of female North Korean defectors were victims of human trafficking[18] Due to their vulnerability as an illegal migrant, they were sold for cheap prices around 3,000 to 10,000 yuan.[18] Violent abuse started in apartments near

A film clip "George Bush Meets with North Korean Defectors and Family Members of Japanese Abducted by North Korea" is available for free download at the Internet Archive

Media

UNHCR protests Chinese deportation of North Koreans

"North Korean Refugees in China and Human Rights Issues: International Response and U.S. Policy Options", CRS Report to Congress, September 26, 2007

Wolfowitz, Paul, "How to Help North Korea's Refugees", The Wall Street Journal , June 16, 2009

, June 16, 2009 "North Korean Refugees in China: Findings", U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China, 2005 Annual Report.

MacIntyre, Donald, "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide", Time magazine, Monday, Jun. 25, 2001

magazine, Monday, Jun. 25, 2001 NK agent disguised as defector detained [7]

Revised law aims to up state employment of NK defectors [8]

Lartigue, Casey, Jr. (2010-07-18). "Surprise — North Koreans love me!".

Articles

Crossing Heaven's Border PBS documentary follows North Korean defectors on a harrowing journey to freedom

"Seoul Train" by Jim Butterworth, Lisa Sleeth and Aaron Lubarsky, 2004 PBS documentary, at Independent Lens PBS website. ("Seoul Train" at Global Voices PBS website)

PBS website. ("Seoul Train" at PBS website) Human rights in North Korea

Web sites

^ Schwekendiek, Daniel (2011). A socioeconomic history of North Korea. Jefferson and London: Mcfarland. ^ "North Korea - Sanctions Wiki". Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported. ^ Kumar, T. (5 March 2012). "China's Repatriation of North Korean Refugees". Amnesty International USA . ^ Schwekendiek, Daniel. 2010. "A Meta-Analysis of North Koreans Migrating to China and South Korea", in: Korea: Politics, Economy, Society, R. Frank, J. Hoare, P. Koellner, S. Pares (eds.), Leiden and Boston: Brill, pp. 247–270. ^ "The Hidden Gulag – Exposing Crimes against Humanity in North Korea's Vast Prison System (pp. 111–147)" (PDF) . The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea . ^ "The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition): Daily News from Korea - N.Korea Sends Defectors' Families to Remote Camps". English.chosun.com. 2014-01-23 . ^ National Museum of the USAF - MIKOYAN-GUREVICH MIG-15BIS ^ "1 in 10 NK defectors seeking asylum overseas". Koreatimes.co.kr. 2013-09-29 . ^ North Korean officials express displeasure ^ Naver News (in Korean) ^ "Why This NGO Was Founded". Life Funds for North Korean Refugees . ^ a b c d e f g Bukhanitaljumin Hyunhwang" [Status of North Korean Defectors, 북한이탈주민 현황]" " ". Ministry of Unification. Resettlement Support Division . ^ Jason Strother (July 27, 2013). "North Korea defectors face long road to integration in South". ^ a b Shinui Kim (July 31, 2013). "Why are the majority of North Korean defectors female?". NKnews.org . ^ "China Extends North Korean Border Fences to Bolster Security". ^ Haggard, Stephen (December 2006). "The North Korean Refugee Crisis: Human Rights and International Response" (PDF) . U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2007 . ^ a b c d e f Yeosang, Yoon; Sungchul, Park; Sunhee, Im (2013). "“Jaejungtalbukja Hyunhwang” [Status of North Korean Defectors in China, 재중탈북자 현황]". Junggukeu Talbukja Gangjaesonghwangwa Ingwonsiltae [Status of North Korean Defector Deportation and Human Rights in China, 중국의 탈북자 강제송환과 인권실태] (in Korean). Seoul: Database Center for North Korean Human Rights. pp. 20–27. ^ a b c d e f Yeosang, Yoon; Sungchul, Park; Sunhee, Im (2013). "“Jaejungtalbukjaeu Ingwonchimhae Hyunhwang” [Status of Human Rights Violation of North Korean Defectors in China , 재중탈북자의 인권침해 현황]". Junggukeu Talbukja Gangjaesonghwangwa Ingwonsiltae [Status of North Korean Defector Deportation and Human Rights in China, 중국의 탈북자 강제송환과 인권실태] (in Korean). Seoul: Database Center for North Korean Human Rights. pp. 37–42. ^ A Woman's Voice International (AWVI, an NGO that focused on the PRC's and DPRK's treatment of Intervention Agenda Item 12: Elimination of Violence Against Women at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in April 2004; speaker: Ji Sun JEONG for(AWVI, an NGO that focused on the PRC's and DPRK's treatment of North Korean refugees to China and of Christians). ^ a b c d e Yeosang, Yoon; Sungchul, Park; Sunhee, Im (2013). "“Junggukeu Talbukja Hangukhaengmit Gangjaebuksong” [North Korean Defectors Sent to Korea and Deported By China, 중국의 탈북자 한국행 및 강제북송]". Junggukeu Talbukja Gangjaesonghwangwa Ingwonsiltae [Status of North Korean Defector Deportation and Human Rights in China, 중국의 탈북자 강제송환과 인권실태]. Seoul: Database Center for North Korean Human Rights. pp. 28–36. ^ Kim Young-jin (17 February 2012). " ' Repatriation of 24 NK defectors in China imminent ' ". Korea Times . ^ Kim Jung-yoon (30 April 2012). "Rep. Park's protests give China lessons". Korea Times . ^ (2013-11-18). "13 N. Korean defectors caught in China". Koreaherald.com . ^ " ' "The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition): Daily News from Korea - China 'Repatriates Dozens of N.Korean Defectors. English.chosun.com . ^ "2013 Update "THE LIST" of North Korean Refugees & Humanitarian Workers Seized by Chinese Authorities" (PDF) . North Korea Freedom Coalition. December 13, 2013 . ^ "Sign the Petition Calling on China to Stop the Forced Repatriation of North Korean Refugees". North Korea Freedom Coalition. December 13, 2013 . ^ Ryall, Julian (14 September 2011). "North Korean defectors rescued off Japanese coast". Telegraph (London) . ^ "N. Korean defectors' rescued off Ishikawa". Yomiuri Shimbun. 14 September 2011 . ^ "4 North Korean defectors reach Japan after six days on the open sea". Japan News Review. June 3, 2007 . ^ Kyodo News (24 August 2007). "Amphetamines on defector similar to drugs seized in past". Japan Times . ^ "South Korea and Japan agreed on North Korean defectors". Japan News Review. June 3, 2007 . ^ Asahi Shimbun - N. Korean defector admits drug use ^ "Nine North Korean refugees sail to Japan]". BBC News. 13 September 2011 . ^ - Japan Focus - The Forgotten Victims of the North Korean Crisis ^ http://ajw.asahi.com/article/asia/korean_peninsula/AJ201403240051 ^ Demick, Barbara (2010). Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea. New York: Spiegel & Grau. ^ BBC News "N Korean refugees reach Philippines" . BBC News. 15 March 2002 . ^ Jerry E. Esplanada (16 January 2011). "Are there North Korean defectors in the Philippines?". Philippine Daily Inquirer . ^ Lee, Jeanyoung. "Ethnic Korean Migration in Northeast Asia" (PDF) . Kyunghee University . ^ "North Korean refugees in Trouble". The Chosun Ilbo. 13 December 1999 . ^ "A Case For Clarification: European Asylum Policy and North Korean Refugees", European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea, published March 2015 ^ "A spotlight on the UK's North Koreans", Migrant Voice, published 15th April 2015 ^ The Korean Republic of New Malden: how Surrey became home to the 70 year old conflict", ", The Independent , published 22nd February 2015 ^ "North Korean defectors learn to adapt in South". Usa Today. 20 December 2011 . ^ Kirk, Don (29 Dec 2004). "N. Korean defectors face new challenges on journey South". Christian Science Monitor. ^ a b Bukhanitaljumin Ipguk mit jungchakgwajung" [Entrance And Settlement Procedure of North Korean Defectors, 북한이탈주민 입국 및 정착과정]" " ". Ministry of Unification. Resettlement Support Division . ^ Jung, Seung-im "진정한 통일은 사람과 사람의 통합" 탈북 주민과 머리 맞댔다 Hankook Ilbo . July 20, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014. ^ Kim, Eldo PSCORE's Got the Word on Helping New Defectors Joongang Daily 17 March 2010 ^ [5] Voice of America ^ [6] Chiang Mai University, 2012 ^ North Korea, National Geographic, February 2009 ^ "Japanese abductee's son among defectors sent back to N. Korea: report". The Mainichi. May 30, 2013 . ^ "Abductee's son said among defectors". The Japan Times. May 30, 2013 . ^ Chung Min-uck (2013-05-31). "Foreign ministry in hot water over defectors". The Korea Times . ^ John H. Cha (2013-08-25). Laos Nine' deserve international support" ' ". The Korea Herald . ^ "North Korean defectors sent back agonizingly close to freedom - CNN.com". Edition.cnn.com. 4 October 2013 . ^ Damien Gayle. "Did North Korea execute these children for defecting? | Mail Online". London: Dailymail.co.uk . ^ "9 North Korean defectors may have been executed upon return: report". Washington Times. 2013-10-01 . ^ Damien Gayle. "Did North Korea execute these children for defecting? | Mail Online". London: Dailymail.co.uk . ^ Ryall, Julian (2013-06-21). "North Korea parades defectors". London: Telegraph . ^ "U.S.-BASED North Korean REFUGEES A Qualitative Study" (PDF) . www.bushcenter.org. Oct 2014 . ^ Roberta Cohen (Sep 20, 2011). "Admitting North Korean Refugees to the United States: Obstacles and Opportunities". 38 North . ^ Buckley, Sarah (2004-07-28). "Escaping North Korea". BBC . ^ Jeffries, Ian (2013-06-17). North Korea: A Guide to Economic and Political Developments. Routledge. p. 94. ^ a b "Perilous Journeys; The Plight of North Koreans in China and Beyond" (PDF) . The Nautilus Institute. 26 October 2006 . ^ "Hundreds of North Koreans to enter South, reports say". San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. 23 July 2004 . ^ "Defector Activist Arrested in Vietnam". Daily NK. 25 June 2012 . ^ "Vietnam detains S.Korean who helps N.Korean refugees". AFP. 24 June 2012 . ^ "S. Korean activist detained in Vietnam for helping N. Korean defectors" (in 한국어). Yonhap News. 25 June 2012 . ^ "Activist detained in Vietnam for helping NK defectors". Korea Times. 25 June 2012 . ^ "S.Korean Activist Arrested in Vietnam for Helping N.Korean Refugees". The Chosun Ilbo. 27 June 2012 . ^ "S. Korean activist deported from Vietnam for aiding N.K. defectors" (in 한국어). Yonhap News. 29 June 2012 . ^ Han, Judy. "judyhan.com". North Korean refugees in Canada . ^ "Prime Minister Stephen Harper greets a North Korean defector". ^ a b c Ju-min Park (18 August 2013). "North Korea Is Promising No Harm And Cash Rewards For Defectors Who Come Back". Business Insider. Additional reporting by Se Young Lee in Seoul and Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Editing by Dean Yates and David Chance. Reuters . ^ a b Chung Min-uck (2013-12-24). "More N. Korean defectors going back". Korea Times . ^ a b c d McCurry, Justin (22 April 2014). "The defector who wants to go back to North Korea". The Guardian . ^ "N. Korea's 're-defector' to stand to trial in Seoul". Global Post. Yonhap News Agency. September 11, 2013 . ^ "Almost 700 N. Korean defectors' whereabouts unknown". Yonhap News Agency. 27 September 2015 . ^ Adam Taylor (26 December 2013). "Why North Korean Defectors Keep Returning Home". Business Insider .

References

[12][17][18][20][46]

Fiction and non-fiction works

See also

North Korea under Kim Jong-un has started a campaign to attract defectors to return with promises of money, housing and employment. According to unconfirmed reports, government operatives have contacted defectors living in South Korea and offered them guarantees that their families are safe, 50 million South Korean won ($45,000),[75] and a public appearance on TV.[77] North Korea has aired at least 13 such appearances on TV where returning defectors complain about poor living conditions in the South and pledge allegiance to Kim Jong-un.[77][80]

In some cases, defectors voluntarily return to North Korea. Exact numbers are unknown,[75] but as of 2013, their number is thought to be increasing. Double defectors either take a route through third countries such as China or may defect directly from South Korea.[76] The Unification Ministry of South Korea has publicly acknowledged only 13 double defections. Three of those have since defected to South Korea again,[77] at least one of whom was charged by South Korea upon return.[78] However, the total number is thought to be higher than 13. A former South Korean MP estimates that in 2012 about 100 defectors returned to North Korea via China.[77] About 700[79] defectors living in South Korea are unaccounted for and have possibly fled to China or Southeast Asia in hopes of returning to North Korea.[76] In one case, a double defector re-entered North Korea four times.[75]

Double defectors

North Korean asylum seekers and defectors have been rising in numbers in Canada since 2006.[73] Radio Free Asia reports that in 2007 alone, over 100 asylum applications were submitted, and that North Korean refugees have come from China or elsewhere with the help of Canadian missionaries and NGOs. The rapid increase in asylum applications to Canada is due to the limited options, especially when receiving asylum is becoming more difficult. On 2 February 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper met Hye Sook Kim, a North Korean defector and also received advice from Dr. Norbert Vollertsen, "Canada can persuade China, among others, not to repatriate the North Korean refugees back to North Korea but, instead, let them go to South Korea and other countries, including Canada."[74]

Canada

On June 25, 2012, a South Korean activist surnamed Yoo was arrested for helping the North Korean defectors to escape.[67][68][69][70][71][72]

Many defectors who reach China travel onwards to South-east Asian nations, especially Vietnam. The journey consists of crossing Tumen River, either when frozen or shallow in summer, in camouflage, and then taking the train secretly across China. From there, they can either work illegally, though often exploited, or attempt to travel to South Korea.[63][64] Though Vietnam remains an officially communist country and maintains diplomatic relations with North Korea, growing South Korean investment in Vietnam has prompted Hanoi to quietly permit the transit of North Korean refugees to Seoul. The increased South Korean presence in the country also proved a magnet for defectors; four of the biggest defector safehouses in Vietnam were run by South Korean expatriates, and many defectors indicated that they chose to try to cross the border from China into Vietnam precisely because they had heard about such safehouses.[65] In July 2004, 468 North Korean refugees were airlifted to South Korea in the single largest mass defection; Vietnam initially tried to keep their role in the airlift secret, and in advance of the deal, even anonymous sources in the South Korean government would only tell reporters that the defectors came from "an unidentified Asian country".[66] Following the airlift, Vietnam tightened border controls and deported several safehouse operators.[65]

Vietnam

On 5 May 2006, unnamed North Koreans were granted refugee status by the North Korean Human Rights Act in October 2004. The group, which arrived from an unnamed Southeast Asian nation, included four women who said that they had been the victims of forced marriage. Since this first group of refugees, the U.S. has admitted approximately 170 North Korean refugees by 2014.[61] Between 2004 and 2011, the U.S. has admitted only 122 North Korea refugees and only 25 have received political asylum.[62]

United States

Although Southeast Asia was once seen as a safe haven for North Korean defectors, some countries have recently altered their policies toward the defector situation. In 2013 nine defectors were arrested and sent back to North Korea after being tricked, causing international outrage. One of the defectors is the son of a Japanese abductee.[52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60]

Laos

Thailand is generally the final destination of North Koreans escaping through China. While North Koreans are not given refugee status and are officially classified as illegal immigrants, the Thai government will deport them to South Korea instead of back to North Korea. This is because South Korea recognizes native Koreans from the entire Korean Peninsula as citizens. These North Korean escapees are subject to imprisonment for illegal entry; however, most of these sentences are suspended.[49][50] Many North Koreans will in fact surrender themselves to the Thai police as soon as they cross the border into Thailand.[51]

Thailand

The employment status of defectors prior to leaving North Korea was: 1.6% held administrative jobs, 2.6% were a soldier at the time (all able-bodied persons are required to serve 7–10 years in the military), 37.7% were "workers", 48.4% were unemployed or being supported by someone else, 3.9% were "service", 0.8% worked in arts or sports, and 2.0% worked as "professionals".[12]

As of February 2014, age demographic of North Korean defectors show that 4% were aged 0–9, 12.2% were aged 10–19, 57.8% were aged 20–39, 21.2% were aged 40–59, and 4.4% were aged over 60.[12]

Results of a survey conducted by the North Korean Refugees Foundation show that approximately 70% of North Koreans to have defected to South Korea since about 1998 are female.[12] The percentage of female defectors has risen from 55.5% in 2002 to a high of 78.3% in 2008.[14]

Criteria / Year ~1998 ~2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Total Male 831 565 510 474 626 424 515 573 608 662 591 795 404 369 305 91 8,343 Female 116 478 632 811 1,272 960 1,513 1,981 2,195 2,252 1,811 1,911 1,098 1,145 1,092 444 19,711 Total 947 1,043 1,142 1,285 1,898 1,384 2,028 2,554 2,803 2,914 2,402 2,706 1,502 1,514 1,396 535 28,054 Female Percentage 12% 46% 55% 63% 67% 69% 75% 78% 78% 77% 75% 70% 72% 76% 78% 83% 70%

Status of North Korean Defectors Entering South Korea (2015.5)[12]

Approximate total number of defectors to South Korea from 1953 to June 2014: 26,854

Statistics

There are also non-profit and non-governmental organizations that seek to make the sociocultural transition easier and more efficient for the refugees. One such organization, PSCORE, runs education programs for refugees, providing weekly English classes and one-on-one tutoring.[48]

North Korean refugees arriving in the South first face joint interrogation by authorities having jurisdiction including the National Intelligence Service and the National Police Agency to ensure that they are not spies.[46] They are then sent to Hanawon, a government resettlement center.

Resettlement

The regulations tighten defector screening processes and slash the amount of money given to each refugee from ₩28,000,000 ($24,180.08) to ₩10,000,000 ($8,635.743). South Korean officials say the new rules are intended to prevent ethnic Koreans living in China from entering the South, as well as stop North Koreans with criminal records from gaining entry.[45]

Recently, South Korea has passed controversial new measures intended to slow the flow of asylum seekers as it has become worried that a growing number of North Koreans crossing the Amnok and Duman Rivers into China will soon seek refuge in the South.

The state provided some defectors with apartments, and all those who wished to study were granted the right to enter a university of his or her choice. Military officers were allowed to continue their service in the South Korean military where they were given the same rank that they had held in the North Korean army. For a period of time after their arrival defectors were also provided with personal bodyguards.

In 1962, the South Korean Government introduced the "Special law on the protection of defectors from the North" which, after revision in 1978, remained effective until 1993. According to the law, every defector was eligible for a generous aid package. After their arrival in the South, defectors would receive an allowance. The size of this allowance depended on the category to which the particular defector belonged (there were three such categories). The category was determined by the defector's political and intelligence value. Apart from this allowance, defectors who delivered especially valuable intelligence or equipment were given large additional rewards. Prior to 1997 the payments had been fixed in gold bullion, not in South Korean won—in attempts to counter ingrained distrust about the reliability of paper money.

Reward

[12] The number of defectors since the 1950-1953 Korean War is more than 26,000.[44] South Korea's

South Korea

The largest North Korean community in Europe resides in New Malden, South West London. Approximately 600 North Koreans are believed to reside in the area,[42] which is already notable for its significant South Korean community.[43]

Research by the human rights organisation the European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea claims that there is around 1,400 North Korean refugees in Europe as of 2014. Citing UNHRC statistics, the report identified North Korean communities in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.[41]

Europe

A study by Kyung Hee University estimated that roughly 10,000 North Koreans live in the Russian Far East; many are escapees from North Korean work camps there.[39] Both South Korean diplomatic missions and local ethnic Koreans are reluctant to provide them with any assistance; it is believed that North Korea ordered the assassination of South Korean consul Choi Duk-gun in 1996 as well as two private citizens in 1995, in response to their contact with the refugees. As of 1999, there were estimated to be only between 100 and 500 North Korean refugees in the area.[40]

Russia

The Philippines has in the past been used as a transit point for North Korean refugees, often arriving from China and then being sent on to South Korea.[37] There may also be an unknown number of North Korean refugees that have blended into the South Korean community in the Philippines.[38]

Philippines

A much shorter route than the standard China-Laos-Thailand route is straight to Gobi Desert.

Mongolia

Japan resettled about 140 ethnic Koreans who managed to return to Japan after initially immigrating to North Korea under the 1959-1984 mass "repatriation" project of ethnic Koreans from Japan. This supposed humanitarian project, supported by Chongryon and conducted by the Japanese and North Korean Red Crosses, had involved the resettlement of around 90,000 volunteers (mostly from South Korea) in the DPRK, which Chongryon hailed as a "paradise on earth".[34] Some of the Koreans include Kim Hyun Hui who is student of Yaeko Taguchi who were repatriated revealed evidence about the whereabouts of Japanese citizens who had been kidnapped by North Korea.[35]

There have been three cases of North Korean defectors who have escaped directly to Japan. In January 1987, a small boat carrying 13 North Koreans washed ashore in Fukui Port in Fukui Prefecture and then continued to South Korea via Taiwan.[27][28] In June 2007, after a six-day boat ride a family of four North Koreans was found by the Japan Coast Guard off the coast of Aomori Prefecture.[29] They later settled in South Korea.[30][31][32] In September 2011, the Japan Coast Guard found a wooden boat carrying nine people, three men, three women and three boys. The group had been sailing for five days towards South Korea but had drifted towards the Noto Peninsula.[33]

Japan

Human rights organizations have compiled a list of hundreds of North Korean defectors repatriated by China.[25][26] For some of them the fate after repatriation to North Korea is described, ranging from torture, detention or prison camp to execution. The list also includes humanitarian workers, who were assassinated or abducted by North Korean agents for helping refugees.

North Koreans are escaping the impoverished country every day, across the heavily guarded border to mainland China to avoid persecution and starvation. The escapees might face death, if returned to their homeland. South Korean human rights activists are continuing to stage hunger strikes and appeal to the U.N. Human Rights Council to urge China to stop the deportation of the refugees.[22][23][24]

China refuses to grant refugee status to North Korean defectors and considers them illegal economic migrants. The Chinese authorities arrest and deport hundreds of defectors back to North Korea, sometimes in mass immigration sweeps. Chinese citizens caught aiding defectors face fines and imprisonment. In the early to mid-1990s, Chinese government was relatively tolerant with the issue of North Korean defectors.[20] Unless the North Korean government sent special requests, Chinese government did not display serious control of the residence of North Koreans in Chinese territory.[20] However, along with intensified North Korean famine in the late 90s, the number of defectors sharply increased which raised international attention.[20] As a result, China stepped up the inspection of North Korean defectors and began their deportation.[20] In February 2012, Chinese authorities repatriated North Korean defectors being held in Shenyang and five defectors in Changchun from the same location. The case of the 24 detainees, who have been held since early February garnered international attention due to the North's reported harsh punishment of those who attempted to defect. China repatriates North Korean refugees under a deal made with North Korea, its ally. Human rights activists say those repatriated face harsh punishment including torture and imprisonment in labor camps.[21]

[18] However, the actual number may be larger considering that many female defectors tend to deny their experience of prostitution.[18]

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