r/northkorea

I’ve read that China officially treats North Korean defectors as illegal migrants and forcibly repatriates them to North Korea, where they can face severe punishment.

But I’m curious about what happens in practice, especially from the perspective of people who live in the border regions.
Is China actively hunting down and deporting North Korean escapees, or is the official policy enforced inconsistently, with some local authorities turning a blind eye and allowing people to pass through China on their way to freedom?

I understand that this is a sensitive topic, and I’m not looking for political talking points. I’d genuinely like to hear from people who live near the border or have firsthand knowledge of how things work on the ground.

Is the reality as strict as the official policy suggests, or is there a significant gap between the official position and what actually happens?

What is Kim like?? He seems really nice. His wife Ri Sol is so pretty. I wish I could meet Kim one day