Saturday, February 07, 2009

Economics major motivation for North Korean defectors

A majority of North Korean defectors fled their homeland due to economic woes rather than seeking political freedom, a survey finds.

Conducted by Marcus Noland, senior fellow of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the survey showed that 56.7 percent defected to the South due to economic problems, while 27 percent fled seeking political freedom.

The survey of 300 North Korean defectors now living in South Korea also showed that almost all believed food aid from outside went to government officials and the military.

[Yonhap News]

No comments: