For those of us who live in our relatively safe and comfortable democratic society’s, our most pressing concerns might be finding employment, obtaining a mortgage for a home, or worrying about credit card debt.  But if you are unlucky enough to be a citizen of North Korea, you will not be concerned with any of these matters. If you are among the vast majority of poor, you will never have had the chance to own a home, use credit cards or even have knowledge that many of the things-we take for granted in our daily lives, even exists. If your a man, the chances are you will be in the military or a farm worker. If you’re a woman you will probably be unemployed and live at home and unless your from a privileged background, the highest level of education you would have obtained would be high school. As a poor citizen of North Korea you would have never seen the internet or enjoyed religious freedom. In fact you could be publicly executed for owning a bible. You will never be able to express political beliefs other than these of leader Kim Jong ll. Most people don’t have electricity and if you become ill, you might never receive treatment .

As a poor resident of the “workers republic” your most pressing concerns would be malnutrition, sickness and how to avoid persecution from your government. In the 1990’s 2.5 million people died of starvation in North Korea. People were forced to eat grass, tree bark and roots to survive, as a result many are still suffering with health problems caused by lack of nutrition. China did allow many refuge to cross the border but after protests from North Korea, this stopped and despite protest from the USA and European countries, China refuses to treat North Korean as refugees, stating that they are economic migrants. 

For the vast majority of people the only hope of a future is to escape to prosperous South Korea. Its impossible to cross the border into South Korea, because it is heavily fortified and would mean certain death. However it is relatively easy, although still dangerous  to cross the river Tuman into China. Once inside Chinese territory refugees face a long, treacherous journey across the Chinese mainland. They travel mostly by railroad, doing their best to avoiding Chinese officials and when they reach Laos, they trek through dense jungle. Guides who know the rout like the back of their hand, lead the way.  In Laos they are still in danger of being deported until they reach Bangkok , Thailand, where they can apply for political asylum with the South Korean Embassy.

Many refugees do not make it to South Korea and remain in China  where they are exploited.  Many woman are forced to work in the sex industry or are sold as brides to Chinese farmers. Chinese police often raid villages, arrest and deport the refugees. Fortunately there are a number of missionaries and humanitarian organizations who provide refuge and assist in smuggling the refugees to Thailand. These groups risk imprisonment themselves, but continue with the work despite.

For the fortunate  refugees that make it to Bangkok and apply for a asylum they will eventually be flown to South Korea. There they are provided with housing, given an allowance and taught the ways of South Korean  society.  They also receive assistance in finding work and training. Many save money to pay smugglers to bring their relatives from North Korea. 

photo credit; media.photobucket.com/image/east+asia/Kengerz