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North Korean defectors jump 15% on year as of August

Collected: 2016.09.07

Distributed: 2016.09.08

Source: Go Direct

The number of North Korean defectors coming to South Korea has been rapidly growing this year. According to the Ministry of Unification on Wednesday, 894 North Koreans fled their country and arrived in the South as of August this year, up 15 percent from the same period of last year.

This year’s increase is the biggest since the third-generation heir Kim Jung-un took power in late 2011. The number of North Korean defectors rose to 2,914 in 2009 but, since then, it has been on the decline with 2,706 in 2001, 1,502 in 2012, 1,514 in 2013, 1,397 in 2014 and 1,276 in 2005 due to tighter border controls and clampdown on defection.

The spike in defection from middle- and upper-classes has been cited as further evidence of instability in the country due to Kim’s reign of terror.

“More and more North Koreans are coming to South Korea in search of better lives,” said a government official.

The number of North Korean defectors living in South Korea is expected to reach 30,000 late October or early November.

By Kim Sung-hoon

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