No. of North Korean defectors plunges in 2020 amid border closure
This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2018, shows a woman holding a mobile phone while walking through Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang. AFP
The number of North Koreans defecting to South Korea dropped sharply last year apparently due to the North's border closure to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus, government data showed Wednesday.
According to the data provided by the unification ministry, a total of 229 North Koreans settled down in South Korea last year. The number was far fewer than the 1,047 tallied a year earlier and 1,137 registered in 2018.
During the first quarter, 135 North Koreans defected to the South. The figures in the second, third and fourth quarters dropped to 12, 48 and 34, respectively.
The plunge is attributable to the North's move to close its border with China since January last year.
North Korea claims to be coronavirus-free, but it has remained on high alert by closing its borders and restricting movement of people to stave off an outbreak of the highly contagious disease.
As of the end of last year, the total number of North Korea defectors living in South Korea stood at 33,752, according to the ministry. (Yonhap)
- 最近发表
-
- 17 Places That Harness the Power of the Sun
- Blinken says US will always work with S. Korea against NK provocations
- N. Korean workers refuse to go to work in Dandong: Seoul expert
- The congressman leading the House sit
- Bernie Sanders’ DNC speech sounded like everyone else’s. That’s astonishing.
- 团结拼搏 铸魂塑骨奏华章
- 17 pop culture moments that were just too much in 2017
- 发挥审判职能 服务灾后重建
- CeeDee Lamb secures record
- NK leader guides military drills of paratroopers, calls for war preparations
- 随机阅读
-
- Scientists detect water sloshing on Mars. There could be a lot.
- 破解农村干部成长“天花板”
- NK leader guides military drills of paratroopers, calls for war preparations
- This Twitter bug will give you back your blue check... sort of
- 17 Places That Harness the Power of the Sun
- 'Game of Thrones' Season 8 will premiere in 2019, says Sophie Turner
- Quincy Jones to launch his own video streaming site dedicated to jazz
- S. Korean Red Cross sets list for family reunions with North
- How much for Oasis tickets? Fans joke about splurging on reunion shows
- N. Korean workers refuse to go to work in Dandong: Seoul expert
- Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill crash James Franco's 'SNL' monologue
- 团结拼搏 铸魂塑骨奏华章
- 阳江村K开麦,阳西3人晋级!
- KFC announces yet another Colonel Sanders
- Guardiola chases Champions League vindication
- N. Korean workers refuse to go to work in Dandong: Seoul expert
- 热浪来袭 科学应对防中暑
- 兴农评丨歌唱大美乡村,许的是富民兴村的美好未来
- Herrera snatches late point for Atletico with debut Juve strike
- 韶关乐昌:高标准农田建设助民迈向“宜机化”农耕
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-