How to Escape from North Korea

The Three Paths To Freedom, And Why It’s So Hard

Richard Zhang

FOLLOWING THE MODERATE SUCCESS OF MY PREVIOUS ARTICLE, I have been persuaded to try my hand at journalism again. 

I have decided to write an article outlining the possible ways one might try to escape North Korea. A key factor in the difficulty of escaping North Korea is that South Korea claims all North Korean territory as their own, and therefore, their citizens. As such, if you can escape North Korea and get to South Korea, you’ll instantly be given South Korean citizenship: you’re safe. 

Furthermore, it is a part of the South Korean constitution that defectors will receive money and housing, depending on the information they have about North Korea to offer. After escaping to South Korea, many North Koreans then go on to immigrate to America or Europe.

Now that the basics have been established, it’s time to start covering the possible escape routes. 

Method 1: Crossing from North Korea into South Korea directly. South Korea and North Korea are separated by a demilitarised zone, which can be seen as the border between the two countries. It measures 146 kilometres and is patrolled by soldiers on both sides, heavily armed and willing to shoot to kill. Even if you did make it past the North Korean soldiers, there’s no guarantee the South Korean soldiers wouldn’t mistake you for a threat and open fire. Even with these dangers, defectors have still made it across. In 2017, a North Korean man named Oh Chong-song made it across the border with five bullet wounds, after crashing into the border with a car.

Method 2: Crossing into South Korea via China or Russia. North Korea’s border with China and Russia is largely marked by the Tumen and Yalu rivers. In winter, this river freezes over, and you can simply walk across it. In summer, it is often shallow enough to wade across. Guards are stationed at this border at regular intervals, but they can often be bribed. After crossing, there are many Korean populations in border side towns, so it’s easy to blend in amongst them, but the Chinese and Russian government’s official policy is to deport North Koreans back to China. Christian missionaries often play a key part in getting North Koreans to safety, as well as the South Korean embassy, through other countries that take North Koreans to South Korea, such as Mongolia and Vietnam.

Method 3: Boating into the Yellow Sea. Boating into the Yellow Sea has two main routes: back into South Korea, or into North Korea. Boating from North Korea is difficult, as boats are expensive, considering the GDP per capita of the average North Korean is $1,700, according to the CIA. This aside, there are plenty of sea mines and razor wire in this area of the ocean that make it difficult to get to North Korea, as well as frequent naval patrols. Besides, crash landing a boat into a hostile, foreign country isn’t exactly low key.