NBC #1750

Independent

Independent #2286

The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday when the man drove the stolen vehicle towards the Unification Bridge, ignoring warnings from soldiers and ultimately crashing into a barricade.

The defector, who had escaped North Korea about a decade ago, reportedly told police he was struggling to adapt to life in South Korea and wanted to return to his homeland to reunite with his family.

South Korean law strictly prohibits crossing into North Korea without government authorization, with violators facing severe penalties including up to 10 years in prison.

As of June, approximately 34,200 North Koreans had resettled in South Korea, most after arduous journeys to escape poverty and oppression in their home country.

While around 1,000 defectors flee North Korea for South Korea each year, only 31 attempted to return to the North between 2012 and 2022, according to South Korea's Unification Ministry.

This incident underscores the success of South Korea's integration programs for North Korean defectors. With only a tiny fraction attempting to return, it's clear that the vast majority find a better life in the South. The freedom and opportunities available in South Korea far outweigh the challenges of adaptation.

North Korean defector steals bus in bid to return home from the South

North Korean Defector Attempts Dramatic Return

North Korea

South Korea

China

Chung Sung-Jun/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images

SKorea: NKorea Defector Steals Bus, Attempts to Return to North

Videos

Apps

SKorea: NKorea Defector Steals Bus, Attempts to Return to North

NorthSKorea: KoreanNKorea Defector Steals Bus, Attempts Dramaticto Return to North

The Facts

Sign up to our daily newsletter