People repeatedly try to escape from authoritarian North Korea. Most people flee overland – only rarely by sea. A suspected refugee boat with four occupants has now been discovered in South Korea.
South Korea’s military has intercepted a wooden boat with four suspected refugees from the neighboring country on the heavily guarded maritime border with North Korea. Together with the coast guard, the military discovered and tracked the boat off the east coast, the general staff in Seoul said. The four occupants are probably North Koreans. No further details were given.
South Korean public broadcaster KBS reported, citing a government official, that the four people – a man and three women – were a family. The South Korean news agency Yonhap also reported, citing government circles, that those picked up had expressed their wish to be accepted into South Korea. They would be questioned by the military authorities and the secret service.
North Koreans rarely escape by sea
Since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un came to power in 2011, it has become increasingly difficult for people to escape the impoverished and authoritarian country. Since the corona pandemic, border controls have been further tightened.
However, attempts to escape by sea were rare. This is the second known case of its kind this year: According to the South Korean Unification Ministry, nine people crossed the border by sea in the West in May. Most North Koreans fled across the border into China. However, according to South Korea and human rights organizations, the People’s Republic is sending many back to North Korea.
Last year, North Korea began gradually opening its borders. The number of North Korean refugees arriving in South Korea has also increased again since the beginning of the year. According to Defense Ministry figures, 139 North Koreans reached South Korea between January and September, Yonhap reported. The number has more than tripled compared to the previous year.