North Korea is a dictatorial regime controlled by Kim, Jong-il. Under his regime, millions of North Koreans have perished through starvation while other have died during imprisonment in its large prison/labor camps. Human rights in North Korea are virtually non-existent as the government regulates individual lives from speech, opinion, and thought, to employment, travel, and food rations.

An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 NK refugees are currently living in China. However, China continues to forcibly repatriate North Koreans to a fate that includes imprisonment where they may experience torture, medical and chemical experiments, forced abortions, infanticide, starvation, and hard labor.

A handful of North Koreans desparately force their way into foreign compounds in China and are fortunate enough to gain passage to South Korea, while others travel through "underground railroads" seeking final destination in South Korea. For more information about the circumstances faced by North Korean refugees and to read some of their experience, click on the links below.

REFUGEE STORIES

The Flight Of the Fluttering Swallows - By MICHAEL PATERNITI (courtesy of the New York Times)

Living with Daily Threat of Rape

North Korean Romeo and Juliet

Human Trafficking Victim -- Lee Sun Ja (courtesy of NorthKoreanRefugees.com)

Human Trafficking Victim -- Choi Chong-mi (courtesy of NorthKoreanRefugees.com)

I Was a Political Prisoner at Birth in North Korea (courtesy of NorthKoreanRefugees.com)

NORTH KOREAN REFUGEE ASSISTANCE WEBSITES

North Korean Freedom Coalition

NorthKoreanRefugees.com

Citizens Alliance to Help Political Prisoners in North Korea