A father and son were caught by border guards trying to cross the Yalu River into China from Uiju county, North Pyongan province. The incident underscores continuing defection attempts despite the intensified border crackdown.
According to a source in the province recently, the incident occurred around Sept. 20 in the border area of Uiju county. The father, who was assigned to a flood-relief brigade, tried to cross the Yalu River with his son, who had come to visit him. They were intercepted by a border patrol boat in the middle of the river and arrested.
The father had won praise for his dedicated work in the labor brigade. But his visiting son, struggling with debt and health problems, saw no way forward. After finding no immediate solutions to their situation, they decided to attempt defection together.
“The father and son attempted to cross the Yalu River at a time when border security was particularly tight, with members of the labor brigade working around the clock near the river,” the source explained.
North Korean authorities have tightened border controls in response to recent changes in public attitudes that could encourage defections. Security has been particularly tight in areas where workers have been mobilized for flood recovery near the Chinese border.
With border guards under constant pressure from superiors to “remain vigilant for illegal border activities and maintain intensive patrols,” attempted defectors face a greater risk of detection.
“Border guards spotted them trying to cross at night and sent a patrol boat to arrest them,” the source said. “By the time they were caught, the father and son had swum more than halfway across the river, each clutching a 5-liter water jug.”
After news of the incident spread, fellow brigade members recalled how the usually reliable father had begun staring vacantly at the river after his son’s visit, chain-smoking and sighing until the attempted escape.
After initial questioning by border guards, the two were transferred to the provincial Ministry of State Security.
“Since many members of the brigade know about this incident, they’re likely to be severely punished as a warning to others,” the source said. “Depending on whether the authorities determine that they have ideological problems, they could face a re-education camp or, in a more serious case, a political prison camp.
“When people see no way out of their difficulties and suffering, they naturally have thoughts while looking at a prosperous China. The authorities understand that this environment encourages defection, so these would-be defectors will face harsher punishment than ever before.”
The Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
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October 29, 2024 at 01:30PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)