11 North Korean Defectors in Q1 This Year... Limited Numbers Due to COVID-19

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea in the first quarter of this year has decreased to about one-third compared to the same period last year.

The Ministry of Unification announced that a total of 11 North Korean defectors entered South Korea in the first quarter (January to March) of this year, including 2 men and 9 women. This is a decrease compared to 31 in the first quarter of last year.

North Korean defectors typically cross the border and stay in third countries such as Southeast Asia or China before entering South Korea. This year, the number of entrants decreased due to North Korea's border closures and movement restrictions caused by COVID-19.

According to the Ministry of Unification, the number of North Korean defectors peaked at 2,914 in 2009, then declined to 1,127 in 2017, 1,137 in 2018, 1,047 in 2019, and sharply dropped to 229 in 2020.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.