The number of North Koreans who defected to South Korea tripled last year, as the easing of border closures imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic encouraged students, women and diplomats to make the perilous journey.
Defector numbers plummeted after North Korea sealed its border with China in early 2020 to prevent the virus from crippling its already inadequate healthcare system, with guards reportedly ordered to shoot suspected escapees on sight.
Very few people attempt to reach the South directly via the heavily armed demilitarised zone or by crossing the de facto maritime border, known as the northern limit line.
Last year, 13 defectors fled to the South by sea, the ministry said, adding that their willingness to risk their personal safety was indicative of “worsening conditions in North Korea”.
“Many must have found it unacceptable after experiencing what it was like to live in the free world, knowing that the economic situation even worsened and internal controls strengthened in North Korea.”
The most high-profile defectors include Thae Yong-ho, who defected in 2016 from the post of deputy ambassador at the North’s embassy in London, declaring himself “sick and tired” of Kim’s regime.
The original article contains 566 words, the summary contains 191 words. Saved 66%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The number of North Koreans who defected to South Korea tripled last year, as the easing of border closures imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic encouraged students, women and diplomats to make the perilous journey.
Defector numbers plummeted after North Korea sealed its border with China in early 2020 to prevent the virus from crippling its already inadequate healthcare system, with guards reportedly ordered to shoot suspected escapees on sight.
Very few people attempt to reach the South directly via the heavily armed demilitarised zone or by crossing the de facto maritime border, known as the northern limit line.
Last year, 13 defectors fled to the South by sea, the ministry said, adding that their willingness to risk their personal safety was indicative of “worsening conditions in North Korea”.
“Many must have found it unacceptable after experiencing what it was like to live in the free world, knowing that the economic situation even worsened and internal controls strengthened in North Korea.”
The most high-profile defectors include Thae Yong-ho, who defected in 2016 from the post of deputy ambassador at the North’s embassy in London, declaring himself “sick and tired” of Kim’s regime.
The original article contains 566 words, the summary contains 191 words. Saved 66%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!