Some North Korean defectors living in China are still unable to receive hospital treatment even for serious illnesses due to their status as illegal immigrants.
A Daily NK source in China said recently that one female defector in Jilin province “urgently needs treatment for tuberculosis and severe depression, but because of her status, she is practically being neglected at home as she can’t receive hospital treatment.”
According to the source, the woman began suffering from a dry cough, phlegm, a low-grade fever, and breathing problems a few months ago. At first, she believed it was a cold and bought cold medicine at a pharmacy, but the symptoms didn’t disappear.
In response, her Chinese husband’s acquaintance, a friend of a doctor, helped her visit a hospital. Ordinarily, North Korean defectors without identification cannot receive treatment in hospitals, but if they are friends with a doctor, they can secretly get a diagnosis.
The woman paid her husband’s acquaintance, went to the hospital, met the doctor, and received tests, which determined she had severe tuberculosis. The doctor said she needed to be admitted to the hospital immediately, but she is now taking medicine at home, as she cannot be hospitalized due to her status.
“If she had legal status, she could get treatment relatively cheaply because insurance would cover even the medicine, but because she’s in the country illegally, even medicine purchased at the drug store is expensive,” the source said. “So, if somebody must take medicine over a long period, it’s a heavy financial burden.”
Depression compounds physical illness
The woman complains of severe psychiatric and psychological pain due to her situation. Her symptoms are gradually worsening, but she cannot receive proper treatment in a hospital, medicine costs continue to rise, and she is showing signs of severe depression.
In particular, the source said the woman “misses her parents in her hometown even more because she’s sick” and feels “both sorry and guilty since she can’t send money to her family back home,” leaving her in a “psychologically precarious state.”
“She’s worried that she’s going to die if things continue this way, and that’s worsening her depression,” the source said. “In this circumstance, her disease won’t get any better, no matter how much medicine she takes. In fact, it will only get worse.”
The problem is that most North Korean defectors in China are classified as illegal immigrants and are wholly excluded from the healthcare system, like this woman.
“This isn’t just her problem—it’s a case that clearly demonstrates the situation North Korean defectors in China are up against,” the source said. “Because defectors can’t receive proper medical treatment, this is another reason they want to go to South Korea. But because they could get repatriated to North Korea if they’re caught, deciding to leave for the South isn’t easy.”
January 20, 2026 at 05:44AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)