Why its impossible to Escape from North Korea

Have you ever seen that viral footage of a soldier speeding in a jeep, desperately trying to cross the border? That soldier belonged to the North Korean military—someone so fed up with the policies of Kim Jong Un that he risked everything to escape.

He knew very well that he might be killed—or at the very least seriously injured. So what kind of desperation drives someone to take such a dangerous step? We’ll get to that. But first, why is North Korea often called the world’s largest prison? And why is escaping from there almost impossible?

Why North Korea is Called the “World’s Largest Prison”

Leaving North Korea without permission is considered treason. The punishment? At minimum, life imprisonment—and at worst, death.

Shockingly, even traveling within the country—from one province to another—requires official permission. Many international organizations believe North Korea has one of the worst human rights records in the world.

All men are required to serve in the military for at least 10 years.

There is no freedom of speech.

All media is strictly controlled by the state.

Even more extreme: punishment doesn’t just affect the individual—it can extend to their family. There have been cases where relatives were punished for someone else’s “crime.”

In 2009, even a 2-year-old child was reportedly sentenced to life imprisonment simply because a Bible was found with their parents. Practicing religion itself is considered a crime.

Strict Control Over Foreigners

Very few foreigners are allowed to enter North Korea. And even if they are, they are constantly monitored—like a shadow following them everywhere. They are only shown what the government wants them to see.

A tragic example is Otto Warmbier, a U.S. citizen who visited North Korea in 2015. He was arrested in 2016 for allegedly removing a propaganda poster from his hotel room.

He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, but within a year, he fell into a coma while in custody. He was later sent back to the U.S., where he died shortly after. What exactly happened to him in prison remains unknown.

The Geography Makes Escape Nearly Impossible

North Korea’s geography itself acts like a natural prison:

To the west: the Yellow Sea

To the east: the Sea of Japan

Both sides are heavily patrolled by the navy, making escape by sea extremely difficult.

To the south lies South Korea—a much freer and more developed country. Interestingly, South Korea considers all North Koreans as its own citizens. So if someone manages to cross the border alive, their life can completely change.

But that’s a huge “if.”

The border between North and South Korea is one of the most heavily guarded in the world. It’s filled with:

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers

Barbed wire fences

Landmines

Crossing it is like inviting death.

The 2017 Soldier Escape Incident

In 2017, a North Korean soldier made a daring escape attempt. He drove his jeep at high speed toward the South Korean border.

As soon as border guards noticed, they chased him and opened fire. The soldier abandoned his jeep and ran toward the border—but was shot multiple times.

Miraculously, he managed to cross into South Korea. Later, South Korean soldiers rescued him and pulled him to safety. Despite severe injuries, he survived.

Escaping Through China or Russia

Another route is through the northern borders with China and Russia.

This route is slightly easier—but still extremely dangerous:

The border stretches about 1300 km, filled with mountains and forests.

Rivers like the Tumen and Yalu must be crossed.

Many defectors wait for winter when rivers freeze—or summer when water levels drop.

But even if they reach China or Russia, they’re not safe. Both countries often send captured defectors back to North Korea—where severe punishment awaits.

The Long Escape Route

To truly escape, defectors often try to reach countries like:

Thailand

Vietnam

Mongolia

These countries usually send them to South Korea instead of returning them. That’s why defectors often travel through multiple countries before finally reaching safety.

Since the 1990s, around 34,000 North Koreans have successfully escaped to South Korea.

Why People Started Escaping More

After the collapse of the Soviet Union collapse in 1991, North Korea lost major support. Combined with international sanctions, conditions worsened drastically.

A devastating famine led to the deaths of an estimated 3.5 million people. This pushed many to attempt escape.

By 2009, the number of defectors peaked at around 3,000 per year.

Tighter Control Under Kim Jong Un

When Kim Jong Un came to power in 2012, he cracked down heavily:

Installed signal jammers along borders

Increased surveillance and patrols

Strengthened fences and security systems

Even brokers who helped defectors escape raised their fees from about $2,000 to much higher—making escape unaffordable for most people.

COVID-19 Made Escape Almost Impossible

When COVID-19 emerged, North Korea completely sealed its borders—becoming one of the first countries to do so.

All entry and exit points were shut

“Shoot-to-kill” orders were given at borders

Since then, the number of successful escapes has dropped to almost zero.

Life Inside North Korea

People have no contact with the outside world. They cannot freely practice religion, speak openly, or access global information.

Public executions are reportedly carried out by firing squads. Even attempting to contact someone in South Korea can lead to execution.

Despite the world watching, very little can be done due to North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.