A combination of winter and food shortage will exacerbate the refugee situation, according to the International Crisis Group. Here are some recent figures

The number of North Koreans hiding in China, hoping to settle down there or move to another country, can only be guessed.

Refugee groups cited by the ICG estimated their number reached 100,000 or more in the 1990s, when famine and relatively lax border controls opened cracks in North Korea’s rigid system.

Since then, the flow of “border crossers” along northeast China’s frontier with North Korea seems to have fallen. There are now probably tens of thousands, some marrying locals, and all prey to regular hunts, fines and repatriation by border police, the ICG said.

China repatriates between 150 and 300 North Koreans every week, it added.

About 9,000 refugees from the North have made it to South Korea, usually first travelling from China to Mongolia, Vietnam, Thailand or other Asian stepping stones, the report said.

These figure show that it remains difficult to escape from China but a lot easier to get caught and repatriated. With the threat of another nuclear test, it is unknown how China and other countries will act this winter.

Update: Ah yes, the actual report. Right here.

• OneFreeKorea contemplates the nature of the resistance inside North Korea. In my opinion, the people will not win an armed struggle nor win by being Ghandhi. But whatever it is, it is better than the status quo.
• Helping Hands Korea has accounts of forced abortions for the purpose of racial purity. My perception of Kim Jong-Il is leaning towards more Hitler than Stalin.
• LiNK has successfully brought three teenage refugees to the US Consulate in China. This is interesting since two of the teenagers are orphans. Orphans usually have a hard time receiving refugee status since it is near impossible to determine nationality. But I have faith that they will be arriving in the US very soon.

(Via. OneFreeKorea) What happens when you give corrupt official charge of free stuff? For one thing, it’s no longer free

A North Korean government-sponsored company has reportedly been selling products to North Korean citizens using the nonprofit aid products received from the international community, including South Korea during the Yongchon disaster of April 2004.

Members of a North Korean aid organization located in Dandong City, Liaoning, China stated that 70 to 80 percent of relief products including blankets and medical tools were not sent to the citizens of Yongchon.

One person involved in North Korean aid efforts in Dandong for more than five years said, “The products provided then were stored by Gwangmyung Co., one of the five major companies in North Korea, in a facility in Shineuiju and Pyongyang, and since late last year the products were sold in Yongchon and Shineuiju, as well as (areas unrelated to the disaster regions such as) Pyongyang.”

The source added that with the drought this year necessities were in higher demand, and aid products were popular for being ‘foreign made products’ from China and South Korea, making them much more expensive than North Korean goods.

Tip: If North Korea ever tells you that they need televisions, at least sell them first.