The typical route of defection to South Korea is through China. However, once in China defectors face significant risks of exploitation, abuse and even repatriation.

Indeed, international human rights organizations have long criticized China for repatriating defectors to North Korea and not recognizing them as refugees. The UN Commission of Inquiry Report on Human Rights in the DPRK from early 2014 pointedly criticized China on precisely this front.

South Korea currently supports asylum in Southeast Asian countries, but there are mixed opinions as to whether Seoul is doing all it can, particularly for those who have not made it out