Number of North Korean defectors nearly triples in 2023, including ‘elite’ diplomats, South Korea say
CNN, Jan 19, 2024

上記の記事のスラッシュリーディングと重要単語など

金正恩氏世襲に反対５６％超、韓国、初の脱北者報告書 北朝鮮で配給崩壊 市場経済化も

上の文章のグーグル翻訳


　
South Korea says number of North Korean defectors nearly triples in 2023, including ‘elite’ diplomats | CNN
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Number of North Korean defectors nearly triples in 2023, including ‘elite’ diplomats, South Korea say

By Gawon Bae and Jessie Yeung, CNN, 3 minute read, Jan 19, 2024,

Seoul, South Korea (CNN)
—The number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea nearly tripled in 2023 compared to the previous two years, authorities said Thursday – including a higher number of youth and members of the North Korean elite.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry recorded 196 defectors entering the country last year, it said in a briefing. More than half were in their 20s and 30s, and about 84% were women or girls, according to government data.

The total figure is just a fraction of pre-pandemic levels – 1,047 defectors arrived in 2019 – but it still marks a significant rise after a steep decline during the Covid-19 pandemic.

North Korea slammed its already tight borders shut in 2020, plunging the hermit nation into even greater isolation. Only 63 defectors entered South Korea in 2021, and 67 in 2022, according to government data.

The country began reopening somewhat in 2023, allowing citizens living abroad to return, and resuming international flights to certain countries including China and Russia. But the Unification Ministry said some North Koreans living overseas chose not to return – and instead fled to the South.

About 10 what it described as elite North Koreans were among those who defected last year, the highest number of this group since 2017, according to the ministry. They include “diplomats, other officials and students based overseas (who) were told to return last year as the pandemic situation entered a new phase,” a ministry official said.

“Many must have found it unacceptable after experiencing what (it) was like to live in the free world, knowing that the economic situation even worsened and internal controls strengthened in North Korea,” the official said.

The ministry said further details could not be given for safety reasons.

The most cited reason for defection in 2023 was dissent towards the ruling Kim regime, said South Korean officials – followed by lack of food and hunger in North Korea, which had previously been the most cited reason in recent years.

While millions of North Koreans live in impoverished conditions under the dynastic dictatorship of leader Kim Jong Un, the country’s wealthy elite, such as senior government officials and their families, reportedly have access to luxuries such as air conditioning, coffee and even smartphones – though the phones can only access heavily censored government-run intranet.

These residents mostly live in the capital Pyongyang, where a privileged few enjoy facilities like cinemas, department stores and indoor gyms.

A majority of those who entered South Korea last year had in fact left North Korea years ago, staying in third countries for a long time before making the journey to Seoul, said the ministry – adding that the diversification of defection routes signified the “very tough” situation within North Korea.

Many defectors leave through North Korea’s border into China, crossing the Yalu river that separates the two countries. After entering China, many cross the border illegally into Laos or Myanmar and head for the South Korean embassy in those countries or continue through to Thailand.

While the South Korean government is working to support the settlement of North Korean defectors entering the country, it is closely watching the possibility that the number of defectors could gradually increase if North Korea opens its border with China, said the ministry.

China, a close ally of Pyongyang, doesn’t consider North Korean defectors to be refugees, instead seeing them as illegal economic migrants. Under a border agreement with North Korea, it forcibly deports them.

Once back in North Korea, defectors face possible torture, sexual violence, hard labor, imprisonment in political or re-education camps, or even execution by the North Korean state, according to activists.






Number of North Korean defectors/ nearly triples in 2023, /including ‘elite’ diplomats, /South Korea say

北朝鮮の亡命者（=脱北者）の数は、2023年に約3倍になっている/「エリート」外交官を含み/韓国は発表
By Gawon Bae and Jessie Yeung, CNN, Jan 19, 2024,

Seoul, South Korea (CNN)
—The number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea/ nearly tripled in 2023/ compared to the previous two years,/ authorities said Thursday/ – including a higher number of youth and members of the North Korean elite.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry /recorded 196 defectors entering the country last year, /it said in a briefing.
韓国の統一省は/昨年入国した脱北者が196人と記録した/と記者会見で述べた。

More than half were in their 20s and 30s,/ and about 84% were women or girls,/ according to government data.

The total figure is just a fraction of pre-pandemic levels/ – 1,047 defectors arrived in 2019 –/ but it still marks a significant rise/ after a steep decline during the Covid-19 pandemic.
総数は、パンデミック前の水準のほんの一部にしか過ぎない

North Korea slammed its already tight borders shut in 2020, /plunging the hermit nation into even greater isolation.
北朝鮮は2020年に閉じられたすでに厳重な国境を封鎖し/隠遁国家をさらなる孤立に追い込んだ。
*hermit=ﾊｰﾐｯﾄｩ=隠遁者、世捨て人
Only 63 defectors entered South Korea in 2021, /and 67 in 2022,/ according to government data.

The country began reopening somewhat in 2023,/ allowing /citizens living abroad/ to return,/ and resuming international flights to certain countries/ including China and Russia.

But the Unification Ministry said/ some North Koreans living overseas/ chose not to return – and instead fled to the South.

About 10 what it described as elite North Koreans/ were among those who defected last year,/ the highest number of this group since 2017,/ according to the ministry.
北朝鮮のエリートとされる約10人が/昨年脱北した人の中に居た

They include “diplomats, other officials and students based overseas/ (who) were told to return last year/ as the pandemic situation entered a new phase,”/ a ministry official said.

“Many must have found it unacceptable/ after experiencing what (it) was like to live in the free world,/ knowing /that the economic situation even worsened and internal controls strengthened in North Korea,”/ the official said.

The ministry said/ further details could not be given for safety reasons.

The most cited reason for defection in 2023/ was dissent towards the ruling Kim regime, /said South Korean officials/ – followed by lack of food and hunger in North Korea,/ which had previously been the most cited reason in recent years.
2023年の脱北理由として最も多く挙げられたのは/与党の金正恩政権に対する異議申し立てであった/

While millions of North Koreans live in impoverished conditions under the dynastic dictatorship of leader Kim Jong Un,/ the country’s wealthy elite, /such as senior government officials and their families,/ reportedly have access to luxuries/ such as air conditioning, coffee and even smartphones/ – though the phones can only access heavily censored government-run intranet.

These residents mostly live in the capital Pyongyang,/ where a privileged few enjoy facilities/ like cinemas, department stores and indoor gyms.

A majority of those/ who entered South Korea last year/ had in fact left North Korea years ago,/ staying in third countries for a long time before making the journey to Seoul, /said the ministry/ – adding /that the diversification of defection routes signified the “very tough” situation within North Korea.
脱北ルート多様化は、北朝鮮国内の「非常に厳しい」状況を示してた。

Many defectors leave through North Korea’s border into China, /crossing the Yalu river/ that separates the two countries.
After entering China, many cross the border illegally into Laos or Myanmar/ and head for the South Korean embassy in those countries/ or continue through to Thailand.

While the South Korean government is working to support the settlement of North Korean defectors/ entering the country,/ it is closely watching the possibility/ that the number of defectors could gradually increase/ if North Korea opens its border with China, /said the ministry.

China,/ a close ally of Pyongyang,/ doesn’t consider North Korean defectors to be refugees, /instead seeing them as illegal economic migrants.
Under a border agreement with North Korea, /it forcibly deports them.

Once back in North Korea,/ defectors face/ possible torture, sexual violence, hard labor, imprisonment in political or re-education camps, /or even execution by the North Korean state, /according to activists.
脱北者は北朝鮮に帰国すると/（次のことに）に直面する（可能性がある←可能な～に直面する））/拷問、性暴力、重労働、政治キャンプや再教育キャンプへの投獄、さらには北朝鮮国家による処刑/活動家らによると。





金正恩氏世襲に反対５６％超、韓国、初の脱北者報告書 北朝鮮で配給崩壊 市場経済化も
産経新聞、2024年2月6日

【ソウル＝桜井紀雄】韓国に渡った北朝鮮出身者の約５６％が世襲による金正恩（キム・ジョンウン）朝鮮労働党総書記の権力継承に否定的であることが、韓国で対北政策を担う統一省が６日、初めて発刊した「北朝鮮経済・社会実態認識報告書」で明らかになった。北朝鮮住民の間で世襲体制への否定的意見も強まっている。報告書は脱北者約６３００人を調査した結果をまとめたもので、北朝鮮で社会主義経済体制が事実上崩壊し、人々が国家に頼らず、自活する状況も鮮明になった。

統一省は２０１３年以降、韓国入りした脱北者を対象に調査してきたが、結果は非公開としてきた。北朝鮮政権への刺激を避けようとする意図も働いたようだ。だが、尹錫悦（ユン・ソンニョル）政権は北朝鮮内の人権状況の改善を優先させる立場を打ち出し、昨年は北朝鮮人権報告書の初公開にも踏み切った。

実態認識報告書によると、１６年以降の脱北者のうち５６・３％が正恩氏の世襲を否定的に評価。正恩氏の祖父、金日成（キム・イルソン）主席の血族を指す「白頭（ペクトゥ）血統」による世襲制への否定的な評価は、００年以前の脱北者で２２・７％だったが、１６～２０年に脱北した人では５４・９％に上昇した。正恩時代に入り体制への否定的な見方が強まった実態が判明した。

外部の映像　８割超が視聴経験

外部の映像を視聴したことがあるとの回答は００年以前では８・４％に過ぎなかったが、１６～２０年の脱北者では８３・３％に達した。金体制は、住民が韓国の豊かな生活などを描いたドラマを目にすることを警戒。２０年末に外部映像の流布に死刑も適用する法律を施行したが、既に外部の映像が広く浸透している現状が裏付けられた。
脱北前の３～４年間で監視や統制が強化されたとの答えは、１１年までの脱北者で５０・７％だったのに対し、１２年以降では７１・５％に急増。当局は住民の統制に躍起になっているとみられる。

社会主義経済体制の崩壊も浮き彫りになった。食糧配給を経験したことがないとの回答は７２・２％に達し、逆に闇市場を体制側が追認する形となった「総合市場」で食糧調達する人が７割以上に上った。住民の所得源も正規のものではなく、密輸や裏耕作を含む非公式の経済活動によるものが６８・１％を占めた。

「党の犠牲になるより個人の仕事」

自国通貨への信用は下がる一方で、正恩政権に入ってから中国人民元の流通量が約５倍に拡大。本来は公有であり、禁じられているはずの住宅の売買経験があるという人も４６・２％に上った。

経済活動の活発化から「個人のために仕事をすることが党や国家のために犠牲になることより重要」との回答は５３・２％に達した。半面、幹部らの不正腐敗は深刻化し、正恩政権以降、賄賂供与の経験は倍近くに増加。月収入の３割以上を賄賂などで取られるとの回答も４１・４％に上った。

韓国の金暎浩（キム・ヨンホ）統一相は報告書で「北朝鮮の実態への正確な理解が北朝鮮の変化を導き、自由で平和な統一に向けた最初のステップとなる」とした。





上の文章のグーグル翻訳

More than 56% oppose Kim Jong-un's hereditary rule, South Korea's first North Korean defector report Rationing collapses in North Korea, market economy
2024/2/6 17:08

SEOUL = Norio Sakurai: About 56% of North Koreans who have crossed over to South Korea are negative about the hereditary succession of power to Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, according to the "Report on Recognition of North Korea's Economic and Social Conditions" published for the first time by the Ministry of Unification, which is responsible for South Korea's policy toward North Korea, on June 6. There is also growing disapproval of the hereditary regime among North Koreans. The report, which summarizes the results of a survey of about 6,300 North Korean defectors, reveals that the socialist economic system has virtually collapsed in North Korea, and that people are now able to support themselves without relying on the state.

Since 2013, the Unification Ministry has been conducting surveys of North Korean defectors who have entered South Korea, but the results have been kept private. It seems that the intention was to avoid provoking the North Korean regime. However, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration has made it a priority to improve the human rights situation in North Korea, and last year it released its first report on human rights in North Korea.

According to the fact-finding report, 56.3% of North Korean defectors since 2016 have negatively evaluated Jong-un's inheritance. The negative evaluation of the hereditary system based on the "Paektu bloodline," which refers to the blood line of Jong-un's grandfather, President Kim Il Sung, rose from 22.7% among North Korean defectors before 2000 to 54.9% among those who defected in 16~20. In the Jong-un era, it became clear that the negative view of the regime had intensified.

More than 80% of external images have been viewed.
Only 8.4% of North Korean defectors in 16~20 years responded that they had viewed external videos, but 83.3% of North Korean defectors in 16~20 years responded. The Kim regime is wary of residents watching dramas that depict the affluent life of South Korea. At the end of 2020, a law was enacted that also applies the death penalty to the dissemination of external images, which confirms the current situation in which external images are already widely used.

The number of respondents who said that surveillance and control had been strengthened in the 3~4 years before the defection jumped from 50.7% of North Korean defectors up to 11 years ago to 71.5% after 12 years. The authorities appear to be scrambling to control the population.

The collapse of the socialist economic system was also highlighted. 72.2% of respondents said they had never experienced food rationing, while more than 70% of respondents procured food through the "general market," which is a form of regime approval of the black market. Residents' income sources were also not legitimate, and 68.1% came from informal economic activities, including smuggling and backroom farming.

"It's an individual's job rather than a victim's sacrifice to the party."
While confidence in the country's currency has declined, the amount of Chinese yuan in circulation has increased about fivefold since the Jong-un administration took office. 46.2% of respondents said they had bought or sold a house that was originally publicly owned and was supposed to be forbidden.

Due to the increase in economic activity, 53.2% of respondents said that "working for the individual is more important than sacrificing for the party or the state." On the other hand, corruption among executives has become more serious, and the experience of giving bribes has nearly doubled since the Jong-un administration. 41.4% of respondents said that more than 30% of their monthly income was taken by bribes.