What happens to North Korean defectors who get caught?
If the defectors are caught in China, they are repatriated back to North Korea, where rights groups say they often face harsh interrogations and years of punishment, or even death, in political prison camps (such as the Pukch’ang camp), or in reeducation camps (such as the Chungsan camp or Chongori camp).
Are there still North Korean defectors?
The man’s case is rare — while more than 10,000 North Korean defectors have arrived in South Korea in the past decade, just 30 have returned home, where they face the prospect of being put into forced labor camps, according to official South Korean data.
Does South Korea allow North Korean defectors?
South Korea’s Unification Ministry officially recognizes only 13 cases of double defectors as of 2014. South Korea’s laws do not allow naturalized North Koreans to return.
How many North Korean defectors go back?
30
Double defections inevitably attract headlines, but they are relatively rare. Of the 33,800 North Koreans who have defected to the South, just 30 have returned to the North.
Which countries accept North Korean defectors?
According to South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, over 33,000 North Korean refugees have resettled in South Korea as of December 2020. South Korea remains the most popular destination for North Korean refugees to settle in.
Where do most North Korean defectors live?
Who is the highest ranking North Korean defector?
Thae has been variously described as the highest-ranking North Korean official to defect, and the highest-ranking North Korean defector since the 1997 defection of juche ideologist Hwang Jang-yop. In August 2016, the South Korean government confirmed that Thae and his family were under their protection.
What is North Korean defector?
North Korean defectors are Koreans who have fled North Korea seeking asylum in South Korea or other nations. Immediately following the truce ending the Korean war, South Korea sought to entice North Koreans to defect to the South, especially high level officials or pilots with their advanced aircraft.