Every year, on the border between North Korea and South Korea, where the military confrontation is most intense, North Korean defectors successfully cross and risk their lives to flee to South Korea. These brave men were condemned by the North Korean regime, but in pursuit of freedom and a better life, they bravely crossed landmines, buffer zones, and risked bullets to take steps towards the land of hope in South Korea.
North and South Korea define North Korean defectors: refugees or traitors?
There is a clear disagreement between the two Koreas on the definition of a North Korean defector. South Korea regards them as "Korean refugees" and actively provides assistance; North Korea, on the other hand, treats him as a "traitor" and punishes him severely, sometimes even with his relatives back home. This divide underscores the vast ideological divide between the two countries.
North Korea's policy of closing off the country has led to economic difficulties.
Since 1948, North Korea has been practicing a policy of seclusion and seclusion, which has led to the almost interruption of contact with the outside world. Economic challenges have made North Korea increasingly isolated since the end of the Cold War. In the mid-90s, North Korea suffered from rare floods and droughts, leading to severe famine, a rapid economic downturn, and hardship. In this predicament, some North Koreans began to defect from North Korea through various channels, which became an opportunity for the large-scale emergence of North Korean defectors.
South Korea's Aid Policy and Legislation.
In the face of the increase in North Korean defectors, South Korea enacted a bill in 1997 entitled "Protection and Support for North Korean Residents", which set up special camps along the border to vet and admit North Koreans who came to South Korea through irregular channels, and provided shelter and security. This bill provides a legal way for North Korean defectors to enter South Korea and provides basic guarantees for their safety and livelihood.
The motives of North Korean defectors and their means of escape.
Most defectors fled because of hardship, but a small number did so for political reasons. Since both North Korea and South Korea claim sovereignty over the Korean Peninsula, North Korean defectors de jure become South Korean citizens and will not be repatriated. North Korean defectors often choose to use the third-country route to help them flee by paying a fee to reduce the risk of being deported to North Korea. Among them, passing through Ulaanbaatar and Southeast Asian countries is a more common route, especially Thailand, due to its neutral attitude towards North Korean defectors.
Extremely high risk at the inter-Korean border.
Crossing the inter-Korean border is an extremely high-risk task because of the world's tightest military demarcation line, including barbed wire, sentinels, surveillance, and landmines. The armed standoff between the two Koreas has made the escape of North Korean defectors dangerous, and the buffer zone is home to wildlife and millions of landmines, making it one of the most dangerous minefields in the world.
The miracle of North Korean defectors on the inter-Korean border.
However, there are still a small number of North Korean defectors who choose to take risks for economic reasons, crossing the border between the two Koreas. Every year, a very small number of people make it to South Korea in this way, risking their lives to gradually cross landmines, buffer zones, and finally usher in the moment of freedom.
A thrilling moment in Panmunjom in 2017.
On November 3, 2017, a North Korean defection occurred that shocked the world. A North Korean soldier left his post without permission and drove towards Panmunjom. After being discovered by North Korean guards, he was fired by North Korean guards more than 40 times away from South Korea. However, he successfully entered the Joint Security Zone and was eventually rescued by South Korean soldiers, showing the hardships and miracles of the North Korean defector's escape in an instant.
The future of North Korean defectors.
Successful arrival in South Korea is not the end of the plight for North Korean defectors, who are subject to strict scrutiny to prevent spy infiltration. Nevertheless, they stepped into the free world and worked hard for the beginning of a new life. The story of the North Korean defector is not only a flight, but also a pursuit of freedom and dignity, which makes the world think more deeply about the inter-Korean issue.
Epilogue. 
North Korean defectors who cross the border between North Korea are the silent heroes of North Korea's closed regime, seeking light in the darkness and fighting tirelessly for freedom, equality, and happiness. The history and political complexities between the two Koreas made the road to escape extremely difficult, but their courage and determination became a legend in the hearts of the people, providing a profound perspective on the inter-Korean border issue that has attracted global attention.
North Korean Defectors on the Border between North Korea and South Korea: A Moment of Life and Death Across Landmines and Bullets" profoundly reveals the extreme dangers experienced by North Korean defectors and the contrasting attitudes of different countries towards them under the special and complex historical and political realities of the Korean Peninsula. Through detailed descriptions, the author vividly outlines the life-and-death trials faced by North Korean defectors in their pursuit of freedom and escape from their predicament, as well as the tremendous efforts they have made to achieve a new life.
First, the article highlights the economic woes caused by the North Korean regime's closed policies. North Korea's policy of seclusion from 1948 has limited its contact with the outside world, leading to a long period of economic decline and hardship. This predicament has led to the emergence of North Korean defectors as a vivid social backdrop. Through the description of famine and economic collapse in North Korea, the article provides readers with a deeper understanding of the urgent needs of North Korean defectors who have left their homeland.
Second, the process of the defector's escape is vividly depicted, giving a deeper understanding of their determination and courage. Crossing the inter-Korean border requires not only the threat of various military installations such as landmines and barbed wire, but also the different definitions and attitudes of North and South Korea. By depicting the dangers of the defector's pathway, the article gives the reader a sense of the actual pressure of this dilemma, making their escape journey more realistic and thought-provoking.
In addition, the article discusses the definition of North Korean defectors in North Korea and South Korea, revealing the clear ideological differences between the two countries. South Korea defines North Korean defectors as refugees and provides aid and support, while North Korea views them as traitors and pursues a harsh policy of repression. This contrast not only highlights the differences between the two Koreas, but also reflects the fundamental differences in their views on human rights and freedoms.
Finally, the article uses specific cases, such as the Panmunjom incident in 2017, to bring the stories of North Korean defectors closer to the hearts of readers. This is an example of the determination of North Korean defectors to pursue freedom in the face of death threats. Such details sharpen the reader's attention to the inter-Korean issue, provide a deep understanding of the hardships experienced by North Korean defectors, and provide a thought-provoking case study for human rights and freedoms around the world.
Overall, the article succeeds in shedding light on the current situation of North Korean defectors on the inter-Korean border and their courage to fight for freedom through detailed descriptions and vivid examples. At the same time, the article also provides readers with a more comprehensive and profound perspective, which makes people pay more attention and care about this worrying international issue.
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