Missionaries and field workers for Crossing Borders in China are introduced to new pockets of North Korean defectors on a regular basis. There are an estimated 200,000 North Korean refugees living in China today but most are scattered throughout China. Though sparsely dispersed, most share common stories of escape from North Korea, hardships of life in China and also have never heard of the hope of Jesus.

God has allowed us to serve these oppressed people for almost two decades and they have taught us a tremendous amount about life in and out of North Korea. A new video series called “Breaking Down North Korea” was born out of our desire to share some of these learnings with our supporters.

Frequently Asked Questions

People interested in learning more about North Korean refugees often ask these questions:

• How do North Koreans escape?

• What is life like for them in China? 

• Do they all want to ultimately escape to South Korea?

Leaving Home

The first video in the Breaking Down North Korea series is called “Leaving Home”. We start our video series by covering the motivations that drive many to escape the hermit kingdom, such as persecution, starvation and utter hopelessness. “Difficult” doesn’t begin to capture the oppressive quality of life in North Korea. But most North Koreans choose to endure rather than risking their lives and putting their families in harm's way by attempting to escape.

As one of the world’s most persecuted peoples, many North Korean citizens are confronted with two impossible choices: stay and continue living under the tyranny of Kim Jong Un and his regime or attempt to escape and risk torture, imprisonment and in many cases, execution. We know many risk it all to flee North Korea based on South Korea’s Ministry of Reunification reported annual average of 1100 defectors entering into the South over the past several years. We wonder how many more are caught in the act and suffer inhumane consequences.

Porous Border

It may be hard to fathom that any person or goods can pass through one of the most ironclad borders in the world. While the DMZ is the world’s most dangerous border, North Korea’s border with China is known to be porous. Illegal activities take place across the border through the work of human agents on both sides of the border. This also seems like an impossibility but if you oppress a people to utter desperation, people find ways to survive, even if that means getting blood on their hands.

Black market activity across the border have imported cell phones connected to Chinese cell towers and have exported drugs like methamphetamines and opium out to China. It has also been the source of trafficked women into China where they are sold as servants and brides in a country still struggling with a shortage of females.

Staying Alive

Most men in North Korea are locked into state jobs with meager pay or serve in the North Korean army. This is the “duty” North Korean men serve, which puts the burden of providing for the family on women. Escaping North Korea is often driven by the selfless motivation of many women who aspire to earn money outside of North Korea in order to send money back to their struggling families.

However, those who successfully escape or are trafficked into China face an entirely new set of challenges where the land and language are foreign, the government deems them as enemies of the state and the threat of capture is ever present.

Breaking Down North Korea

We’re thankful for this opportunity to tell the collective stories of the North Korean refugees under our care. We look forward to answering your questions and uncovering the tragedies that occur behind the North Korean and Chinese veil and to show the redemptive work God has done to bring His light into their hearts and lives.

Please watch, like and share our video series: Breaking Down North Korea. Thank you.

WATCH THE COMPLETE BREAKING DOWN NORTH KOREA VIDEO SERIES.