The South Korean Ministry of Unification (MOU) has reported that the number of North Korean defectors hailing from Jagang province – a North Korean province on the border with China – increased from 207 to 222 between fall 2018 and winter 2019.

This number represents an increase of just 15 defectors over the course of a 15-month-period from this province. By comparison, other provinces along the border, such as North Hamgyong Province and Ryanggang Province, produced 626 and 774 additional defections, respectively.

These numbers reflect the latest entry in an old trend: Jagang Province, despite straddling the Sino-North Korean border