Starving and desperate North Koreans flee their homes for relative paradise in China. But as this astonishing footage shows, the journey to China is nightmarish. Naked North Koreans swim across a freezing river, often trading drugs or women with corrupt boarder police.
Get Flash to see this player.
North Korea is facing a grave food shortage and hunger crisis right now. During the 1990s, 1 million of the country's 23-million citizens perished during a famine caused by a mismanaged farm sector and flooding. Another disaster appears on the horizon. Unfortunately, North Korea's isolationist character, as well as South Korean political demands, are preventing South Korea from providing crucial food aid. Thus, many people have no choice but to flee.
China does not consider North Koreans refugees but rather economic migrants. To find out what that means for the escapees, read more.
If the escapees manage to avoid being sent back to North Korea and punished with time spent in labor camps, they have no real protections in China. Some are sold into the sex industry, some get married for papers, some try to escape to South Korea.
Sadly, a risky crossing and clandestine life in China exceeds their quality of life (or potential death) back home.
Should the surrounding countries like China and South Korea do more to address the humanitarian crisis, or is it North Korea's problem? South Korea is reluctant to send food aid if North Korea does not make concessions regarding its nuclear program — but is that a fair trade? Will a starving population put pressure on North Korea to change its international policy?
6ixty 8ight
Ose tes Pensﾎes
Vanessa Bruno
wow.
1Now that's something when you got naked N. Koreans swimming in a river on a freezing night trying to get to China. That is just beyond bad.
In my opinion the S. Koreans should send food aid because all their doing by not sending it is allowing more N. Koreans to suffer. The powers that be in N. Korea that they're trying to influence in regards to nuclear weapons will not be swayed on the basis of them sending food or not, so why with hold it?
2North Korea scares me. A lot.
3It's scary that China is a relative paradise to North Korea. We should get rid of them next..
JK
4What we should have done is invade Rwanda and Darfur. Oh wait we can't do that because there the only reward would be to truly liberate a people. They're not geographically strategic nor would the region provide us with any pertanent natural resources. It just wouldn't be worth our time and effort.
5Maybe the Chinese should build a wall ... oh, never mind.
6Renegotiate the Sunshine Policy!
7The Six Party talks should find a clear way to help rebuild the infrastructure of North Korea in exchange for North Korea's return to to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. What they need the most is aid; what they're doing with all these talks of nukes is to show the world that they are an independent country who has the means of security to protect themselves from outside forces. It's harder to understand when we're on the other side of the debate.
Rac! Oh how I miss our witty repartee!
8I think you meant to say, "flee" not "flea"...I can't believe I'm the first to mention anything.
9Ha. I think you're right elizabethgracef.
10The North Korean government will stand firm with their nuclear program. There really is no 'changing their mind' about that. Food is not enough, heh. As far as international aid goes, I'm of the mindset we should only help those who want and really need our help.
11Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.