North Korea

North Korea is a secluded communist country, which did not have much interaction with the outside world ever since its founding. The Korean War, which ended in 1953, saw the split of Korea into two countries - North Korea and South Korea. Ever since, the Communist North has isolated itself and cutting away foreign interactions. The exceptions are when the leaders of the North attend talks and meetings with other countries.
North Korea is a place where propaganda spreads. Having shut its doors from the world till the present day, North Korea is one of the countries who can successfully propagandize its citizens. North Koreans do not have phone lines, need less to say access to the internet. The only media and source of information that they are exposed to is the state media, in which propaganda is rampant. For example, the North Korean media speaks well of Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea, and Kim Jung-Il, his son and the current leader of North Korea and condemns countries like South Korea, its arch enemy. As a result of not having an alternative source of information, North Koreans belief what is said by the media and hence get brainwashed. They have a positive impression of the North Korean leaders and belief that they are great leaders, and that North Korea is a great country to live in. To others, the impression of a backward state(whose leader has extra-marital affairs) where people get no freedom is formed when the words “North Korea” are said. This is the reality. North Koreans, on the other hand, do not have the faintest idea of how the outside world is like, and the state of their country as compared to others. They are living under constant deception, under a veil of ignorance. These explain why there have been no protests in North Korea despite the hardship citizens are facing. It is also the reason why North Korea can still remain as a Communist state until today, with no plans for revolution.
The way out of their predicament, to flee the country, need not ensure them a steady future ahead. Many of the defectors cross the border separating North Korea and China, a place where there are loopholes in security and those with the intention of slipping away can do so if the necessary measures are taken. However, in most cases, the defectors face more problems after crossing the border. The Chinese police has worked with North Korea, agreeing to send back the arrested defectors from North Korea. These defectors would then have to face punishments such as years of hard labour back home. Besides the need to constantly be on the lookout for the Chinese authorities to evade arrest, these refugees also face the problem of finding a job. Often, the owners of indecent businesses would take advantage of these people and once they enter the industry, it is difficult for them to get out of it.
In some cases, these defectors do manage to escape to South Korea or America, places that are considered their “sanctuary”, with the help of some volunteer organisations. The journey that they will have to undergo is both physically and mentally demanding. Not only would they have to evade detection as they cross borders to Thailand, where they could be given a permit to travel to these countries, they also have to bear with the cramp and dirty conditions of the detention room in which they will be placed in while they await getting the permit and for their flight.
Even after managing to clear these procedures and travelling to their “sanctuary”, not all is easy-going. Most of these defectors face the problem of cultural shock. The gap between the development of North Korea and these countries is huge and they could possibly encounter difficulties adapting to the pace and style of life in their new homeland. Moreover, the society might not accept them. Citizens from these countries might look upon these defectors as their competitors for jobs. Moreover, since the defectors come from North Korea, a country enemy to many others (including South Korea and US), the people there might have difficulty accepting the North Koreans. This creates the problem of difficulty integrating into the new society for North Korean defectors.