North Korea defectors

Coercing, and even abducting, defectors is a common tactic for authoritarian regimes to discourage defection.

Despite its avowedly socialist nature, North Korea is governed by a rigid class system – and not all defectors come from the bottom.

Natural disaster - including the flurry of typhoons that hit in summer 2020 - exacerbate existing issues, from food security to infrastructure deficits.

Whether driven apart by the war or through more recent adoptions and defections, Korean Americans have few options for reuniting with their families.

Seoul moved to ban leaflet dropping after a demand from the North, prompting outrage from defector groups.

The fishermen were found to have murdered 16 fellow crew members before fleeing the North.

Defector groups in South Korea accuse the government of not doing enough to help North Korean arrivals.

As the inter-Korean thaw continues, South Korean broadcasters are getting more serious about reporting on the North.

South Korea’s loudspeaker broadcasting system, pumping K-Pop northward, may have played a role in the man’s defection.

Thae Yong-ho, once one of North Korea's highest-ranking diplomats, pledges to devote his life to reunification.

North Korea's human rights situation is highlighted at the UN Security Council and in a recent UN report.