Two if by sea

(Via OFK) Thanks to crackdowns in China and famine in coastal areas, the ocean is becoming a popular escape route among defectors.

Ten North Koreans have defected by boat to the South this month, coming in a total of six trips, four of which were reportedly taken in stolen motor boats.

While thousands of defectors come to the South every year, they usually do so by first going to China and Southeast Asia. The boat journey is more direct but riskier. This month’s trips have reportedly prompted North Korea to strengthen its coastal borders.

More than 2,000 North Koreans came to the South in 2006 and 3,000 defections are expected this year according to the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights.

With Chinese authorities actively ridding its country of refugees before the Olympics, going out to sea in the onset of typhoon season is becoming more of an attractive option.

Unfortunately, there is no way to help seafaring refugees until they land somewhere outside of North Korea.