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China-Japan-Koreas
Escaping North Korea
2004-08-04
Can any Rantburger imagine what it would be like to live like this?
The hundreds of North Korean refugees who have arrived in the South from Vietnam this week will have had a long and frightening journey. For many, that journey is likely to have started at the Tumen River, which separates North Korea from China. North Korea's river border is shallow enough to wade across in summer. This narrow waterway can be walked across in winter, when it freezes over, and waded across in summer.

But South Korean activist Kim Sang-hun told BBC News Online that the crossing was very risky. "It's heavily guarded on both sides," he said. "There are some people who went to the top of a hill nearby and watched the guards for days, and picked the right time." Others risk bribing the guards with cash, drink or cigarettes.

Once across the river, escaping North Koreans are unlikely to spend much time on the heavily-patrolled border, said Kato Hiroshi, head of a Japanese NGO which helps North Korean refugees. Instead, they make their way into the mountains, and from there into populated areas to find work. This alone might take five to seven days, depending on the refugee's connections. They also need to change their clothes to make themselves less visible.
Posted by:Steve White

#1  Dr Steve - In direct answer to your comment... I think TGA has a very solid grasp of the realities. Maybe some others around know something about it from E&E.

These wretched people are taking the ultimate physical risk - to escape one somewhat less deadly but immeasurably more damaging to the soul. This Japanese NGO is one I could actually support.

Thx for the post, Doc!
Posted by: .com   2004-08-04 2:48:53 AM  

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