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They have family.

It can't be a general nor the only explanation for such a low defection rate.

About 1500 people successfully defect each year to the south these days (there have been over 30,000 defectors to SK so far).

Probably a few 1000's more escape the work camps in China and Russia and assimilate locally.

This is a situation where all parties have no incentives to make defection public, in fact their incentive is the complete opposite.

South Korea will not publicize defection because of fear retaliation both against any familial ties the defectors might have and against SK proper.

The North won't because it would make them look weak, for the North even unsuccessful defections will be hushed since why would anyone want to defect from Paradise?

Where did you get the number of escaped people from work camps?

Thats more of a conjecture but as NK sends between 50 and 150K forced laborers abroad each year primarily to the Russian evergreen it wouldn't surprise me if at least just as many of them defect as those who defect across a fairly well guarded border into SK.

low rate of successful defection. Who's to say what the rate of failed defections is.

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