Helpless Escape
Living in North Korea is life without freedom and without choice. Leaving this hermit kingdom is seen as an act of treason and is strictly illegal. Generations of totalitarianism reign and remains intact in the insular country for decades, and the citizens face extreme punishment for attempting the illegal act of leaving their homeland.
The main reason why it is illegal to leave North Korea is due to the way a person feels or behaves towards the state. North Korean citizens who flee their country are seen as ungrateful to their leaders who have provided them with basic resources, such as food and shelter. The state considers escape a traitorous act as it is seen as going against the state’s collective interests.
In addition, North Koreans believe that escaping the country undermines loyalty and love for the North Korean state. Defection has been equated with betrayal in North Korea, and to the government it is no different than one’s betrayal of a family. It is likely that this deep-seated loyalty towards the government, and aversion to betrayal, is the main reason why it is illegal to leave the country.
However, there are more startling reasons why it is illegal to leave North Korea. According to experts, many of those who try to escape from the country may be too afraid to report their escape and ask for assistance in fear of facing harsh consequences of being caught. This is largely due to the strict punishment imposed on those who attempt to escape including death, hard labour, torture, and execution.
Furthermore, those who are successful in their escape are often seen as traitors and, as a result, targeted by North Korean authorities. These authorities do not hesitate to order their abduction and, in some cases, have gone as far as extraditing North Koreans from a third country. Therefore, it is not only illegal to leave North Korea, but it is also incredibly dangerous.
Unfortunately, the North Korean government’s crackdown on citizens who try to escape has not deterred people from attempting to flee the totalitarian and oppressive society. In fact, many desperate North Korean citizens have continued to leave despite the risk of being punished and infringing upon the country’s laws.
The Difficult Journey Out
For those who do choose to escape, their journey towards freedom is not easy. Many North Koreans attempt to escape through China, by fleeing through the border. This route is bone-chilling as it requires swimming across the Yalu River. Escaping through the Yalu River has been likened to a life or death situation as many have been intercepted and arrested before even getting out of the water.
The dangers that those fleeing face do not stop there. There are numerous testimonies of North Koreans being subject to serious human rights abuses and medical neglect. This further emphasizes why the journey out of North Korea is ultimately a treacherous and difficult one. For many, the dream of freedom can come at a heavy cost.
Despite the risks associated with escaping North Korea, many of those who have made it out have spoken positively about their decision to leave and ultimately, their freedom. Take Tae, a North Korean defector, who has shown remarkable resilience in empowering other refugees. With his campaign, ‘Let’s Focus’ on refugees from the Northeast, Tae has succeeded in raising awareness and helping the refugees to integrate into their new societies. He has acted as a beacon of hope to many and emphasized that freedom is worth the difficult journey out.
On the other hand, those that remain in North Korea continue to live in political isolation. Not only are those who stay subject to the nation’s vicious political punishing systems; they are also denied basic human rights such as access to healthcare, education, and even their own families. This unbearable situation drives North Koreans to attempt a dangerous escape, where freedom from political control is only achieved at a high price.
North Korea’s Survivors
For those who successfully make the escape, their journey does not end there. Besides the dangers of fleeing, North Korean refugees face many more challenges when assimilating into their new societies, including prejudice and discrimination due to their status as refugees.
In South Korea, for example, refugee communities are often stigmatized and fail to receive the same treatments as the locals. To make matters worse, many of them struggle to find work due to their lack of qualifications and experience working in the modern world. Unfortunately, many North Korean refugees are left solely dependent on governmental welfare and cannot find a way out of poverty.
To make it even more difficult, North Korean refugees often find themselves clashing with the present-day standards set by their new cultures, such as their working styles and foreign language skills. This impedes their ability to positively contribute to their new societies and manage their lives that are significantly different from their old lives in the North. In effect, these hurdles create a difficult transition for those who attempt to find refuge and freedom in new foreign lands.
Nevertheless, for those who do manage to assimilate, their stories are a source of hope for many and provide a glimpse into how powerful resilience and strength can be, even in the face of fear and oppression.
The Power Of The Unknown
Living in fear can be seen as one of the biggest drivers for North Koreans to attempt an escape. The stringent punishments imposed by the government may paralyse citizens, but the ambition for freedom naturally prevails. This leaves many in a perpetual state of limbo, not knowing the outcome of their attempts to escape, but understanding the power of the unknown.
North Koreans understand that no matter how difficult and dangerous their escape may be, it is necessary to have freedom of choice, a freedom which they are denied and is also incomparable to anything else. This immense power drives North Koreans to risk their lives and pursue a better future outside of the hermit kingdom.
The power of the unknown is therefore a powerful reminder to those living in North Korea to never give up, despite the harsh and opposing reality they face. And until this cycle of fear is broken and citizens are granted more basic rights, more and more will attempt to flee and risk their safety for the sake of freedom.
Shrouded In Secrecy
Given the secrecy of the North Korean government and the ban on foreign journalists entering the country, news from the hermit kingdom is scarce. Coupled with the lack of media reporting and controversy, it is difficult for us to truly understand the consequences of leaving North Korea and the issues faced by the refugees.
Moreover, the real motives and tactics of the North Korean government in stopping people from escaping remain largely unknown. Unfortunately, this means that no one knows what exact measures the government uses, or have yet to use, to ensure that its citizens cannot escape.
Nevertheless, what we do know is that North Korea’s citizens are living in a heavily oppressive environment, one that leaves many no option but to flee. Until significant changes are made and the ban is lifted, the citizens of North Korea will have few options to attain freedom and be subject to inescapable punishment.
Towards A Brighter Future
As evidenced, the consequences of attempting to leave North Korea are severe and present a risk that many refugees are not willing to take. In order for real change and progress to take place, it is necessary for the international community to come together and put pressure on the North Korean government.
While many of us do not experience the brutal reality that North Koreans do, it is our responsibility to be compassionate towards those attempting to escape and seek freedom from their oppressive government. We can do this by becoming informed about the dangers faced by North Korean refugees, standing in solidarity with them, and advocating on their behalf.
Moreover, we must use our privilege to be a voice for those who are not allowed to speak. Let us continue to spread awareness and pressure the North Korean government to help its citizens in attaining more basic human rights. Let us strive for a brighter future, where leaving North Korea does not come at a risk of inescapable punishment.
