Only 223 North Korean defectors arrived in the South last year, down from 2024



News Only 223 North Korean defectors arrived in the South last year, down from 2024 Seoul says most new arrivals lived overseas before resettling in ROK, as tight border controls limit escapes Jooheon Kim January 23, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Defectors who fled North Korea in 2018 attempt to cross the border from Laos into Thailand \| Image: Ju Su-yun A total of 223 North Korean defectors entered South Korea last year, falling from the previous year in the latest evidence that the DPRK’s strengthened border controls are making it difficult for citizens to escape. Seoul’s unification ministry reported this week that 198 women and 25 men from North Korea resettled in the South in 2025, down from a total of 236 in 2024. Most of the new arrivals spent significant time in third countries before coming to South Korea, the ministry explained, assessing that this trend is likely to continue. “North Korea’s borders remain closed, and most of the © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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Only 223 North Korean defectors arrived in the South last year, down from 2024

Seoul says most new arrivals lived overseas before resettling in ROK, as tight border controls limit escapes

Jooheon Kim January 23, 2026

Only 223 North Korean defectors arrived in the South last year, down from 2024

Defectors who fled North Korea in 2018 attempt to cross the border from Laos into Thailand | Image: Ju Su-yun

A total of 223 North Korean defectors entered South Korea last year, falling from the previous year in the latest evidence that the DPRK’s strengthened border controls are making it difficult for citizens to escape.

Seoul’s unification ministry reported this week that 198 women and 25 men from North Korea resettled in the South in 2025, down from a total of 236 in 2024.

Most of the new arrivals spent significant time in third countries before coming to South Korea, the ministry explained, assessing that this trend is likely to continue.

“North Korea’s borders remain closed, and most of the

Only 223 North Korean defectors arrived in the South last year, down from 2024

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Jooheon Kim

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