North Korean defectors to South tripled in 2023, Seoul says

North Korean defectors and human right activists stage a rally in Seoul demanding Beijing release defectors captured in China. The number of North Korean defectors tripled last year, South Korea says. Photograph: Ahn Young-joon/AP

The number of North Koreans who defected to South Korea tripled last year, as the easing of border closures imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic encouraged students, women and diplomats to make the perilous journey.

At 196, the number was still well below the pre-pandemic average, but South Korean authorities said the backgrounds of many recent defectors pointed to growing discontent with the regime of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.