The Harsh Reality of Escaping North Korea #northkorea #prison #kimjongun escape #passport #shorts
Escaping North Korea is a difficult and dangerous undertaking. Here are some ways people have escaped North Korea:
Cross into China
The most common way to escape is to cross the border into China, which has less strict border guards than the DMZ. From there, defectors may go to Mongolia, Southeast Asia, or other countries before flying to South Korea.
Stow away on a ship or plane
In rare cases, people have stowed away on a ship or plane to arrive in South Korea.
Cross the DMZ
In rare cases, North Korean soldiers have crossed the DMZ to defect into South Korea.
Use an underground railway
Some people have used an underground railway that runs through Asia to escape North Korea.
Defectors and their families face many risks, including:
Reprisal
Families of defectors may be imprisoned, deported, or relocated to rural areas or mines. They may also be monitored 24 hours a day and unable to work.
Sexual harassment and assault
Women and girls are often beaten up, sexually harassed, or assaulted during their journeys.
Poverty
Many people who flee North Korea are motivated by poverty, not political dissent.