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Subscribe to RSSThree North Koreans were shot dead by their own country's troops as they tried to cross the border into China, an activist in South Korea told a news agency Tuesday.
The men, who were in their 40s, were crossing the Yalu river near the city of Hyesan, Do Hee-Youn told the AFP news agency.
"People waiting at the Chinese side across the river to help the three defect saw the scene. The guards took with them the bodies which were lying on the ice," Do told AFP.
Do added that it was "very rare" for guards to open fire immediately on seeing people trying to flee and linked this to increased security following Kim Jung-il's death and the transfer of power to his son Kim Jong-un.
"I'm afraid it will become much harder for North Koreans to defect for a while," he told AFP."They are trying to let people know that those trying to flee will be shot dead right away."
Repression, hunger
AFP said about 23,000 North Koreans have fled repression or hunger since the 1950-1953 war with South Korea.
Earlier, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called on Kim Jong-un to seize the opportunity and return to dialogue, saying he was prepared to offer help to revive the North's shattered economy if it suspends its nuclear activities.
"We have left the window of opportunity open," Lee said in a New Year address broadcast from South Korea's presidential Blue House. "If North Korea comes forward with sincerity, we will be able to open a new era for the Korean peninsula together.
"As soon as North Korea suspends nuclear activities in progress, six party talks should be able to resume. Through a six-party agreement, we are prepared to ease the North's security concern and provide necessary resources to revive its economy," he added.
Experts who study the North said it was unlikely it would take a dramatically different path under its new ruler, who at around 27 is believed to lack the experience or political support to initiate his own line of policy.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Interesting. The North Koreans have Military and Bombs for killing human life, even their own....but no food. Everywhere else on the Planet, people value Food and shelter more that weapons. Are these people insane?????
What about Texas?
North Korea = Largest prison system in the world! I feel for the PEOPLE who want a better life but can't.....
The short answer is "yes"
"Everywhere else on the Planet, people value Food and shelter more that weapons."
NK may be insane, starfox, but let us not forget that we in the US are cutting social aid, but spend more on the military than the rest of the world combined.
This is just the new lunatic in charge flexing his muscles to show that nothing has changed and that disloyalty will not be tolerated by the new regime. Taking this hard line is necessary for Kim Jong-un to maintain his hold on power. Any sign of weakness in his part would likely result in his immediate accidental death. Even if he were personally open to accepting the overtures from South Korea, I seriously doubt he is in any position politically to do anything about it. At least in the short term, he must maintain the same policies as his father in order to stay alive and stay in control. This is not to say that I think in any way that Kim Jong-un is any more open to changes than his father was, just saying that I do not think that he really has the freedom to do much even if he wanted to. Kim Jong-un must maintain the support of the military leadership in order to stay in power and any changes that he attempts to make that would threaten the military's complete control of the country would have serious negative effects on his life expectancy.
What about Texas David???
David... Just to correct you're lack of understanding, since you seam to think that Texas loves weapons more than agriculture. Agriculture is the second largest industry in Texas and the nation's second-leading agriculture producing state.
Don't state what you don't know. Your welcome!
We complain about America allot, we complain about our government often, we gripe and whine like spoiled children, no matter what is going on. We follow opposition party diatribe and propaganda believing it to be true, when the truth is they merely wish to control the power so they can get their own interests forced upon the people. But all in all, we aren't being shot when we flee the country. Actually, not many people want to leave although I have seriously thought about escaping to Canada if the republicans get one of their fools running the country. I will stay to watch Ron Paul mix his form of government and hopefully watch to see what differences can be made for the better. But if one fo the other fools, Ginrich, Perry, or whoever, gets in there, I would flee and not worry about getting shot. Problem is, so many people have left the US for what many have considered to be the better government of Canada, they have now announced that they have stopped giving visas to Americans who plan on switching citizenship as the population boom was a burden on their system so soon after the financial bubble burst.
Yet, we won't get shot leaving...
I bet the ones who were shot were not among the wailing grievers last week -- ridiculously over the top acting, that whole scene was.
@1.2 -- Phillip, "largest prison system in the world"? Sadly, that honor goes to the U.S. We imprison more people per capita than any other nation in the world, even including North Korea. We even have more prisoners in total number than China, which has almost 4-1/2 times as many people as we do.
That is because China just pulls up their "Execution-Mobile" and dispenses "justice" on the street.
azdad-- you missed the point-- he was stating that the entire state of North Korea is, essentially, a prison, since its citizenry cannot leave the country and are gunned down when and if they try to. The actual numbers of people incarcerated in North Korea is unknown-- but when you consider that you stay in-country or die, then you can extrapolate that their entire population (save those at the top echelons of power) are prisoners of the regime.
That being said, I do find it odd that "the land of the free" has more documented prisoners than any other country on earth. Irony, huh? I'd laugh if it weren't so dystopian.
I am pretty sure the Jong ILLs enslave the people to make sure that NK doesn't follow the footstep of Libya and the dictators don't end up like Gadhafi.
@ wmg; Your first part of your post 1;11, makes it clear and is correct,in the other posters comparison,of NK,to a prison.
The difference here is that we do not send them(our prisoners) to concentration camps,which is where dissenters are sent to work sometimes til they die. Most of our prisoners had a fair trial also,and more than likely belong in prison.
You are correct there is nothing funny about "dystopian" Nk.
Agreed. But when you consider that the majority of our prisoners are non-violent drug offenders, the questions begin rolling... I'm glad we have a justice system in the US, it works well most of the time, however, sometimes I have to question the merits of the laws that said justice system is enforcing. For me, I feel that non-violent drug offenses should be dealt with through mandatory counseling and/or treatment programs rather than incarceration. Leave prison for more serious criminals. Anyway. Not exactly germane to the discussion-- my apologies for the derail.
It's sad. I wish we could help those seeking freedom.
Help the Mexicans
It would be nice if we could help ourselves.
It would be nice if we could help others who are subjects of North Korea's dictatorial rule and are brainwashed ever since they are born to praise their so called "great leader" BEFORE we think about ourselves who throw away half of our food that could feed their whole population.
Flock the Mexicans!
Illegal Mexicans have bank rupt this country in many different ways-they sneak in here and have a anchor baby,get medicaid or medicare,food debet card,sec 8 housing,money to heat where they live,many hospital went bank rupt due to illegal floosing it and noy paying for service,bring in gangs-commit crimes,go to jail,we pay for their lawyer,add court cost,police work,spanish translater,off to prison,cost around 40,000 a year,we pay more for car insurance because illegal don't but insurance and don't have driver licenses,mexicans have a higher per person-driving drunk,killing people,messing up their bodies for life and the health care for them cost us money,all paper work in governemt from federal to city and county-paper work in spanish and english,killing the school system,where I live it looks like more mexicans in in this city and county than blacks and whites-they sneak in hear but wave the mexican flag and do not want to be an american,more women and childern are abuse now due to illegals,cost money-the one who can here legaly should be raising hell-they paid money and waiting in line to come here and have a better life-they way American flag and want to speak english.my niegbor is Mexican who came here legaly-he and his family fly the America flay,shoot firworks on new years night,clelibrate all our holidays-4th of july-they have a great time,keps his yard and house very clean and nice-could not ask for a better niegbor-illegals have destroyed this country and bank rupted it too.Obama sent word to all how deal with border-he said keep it open,now he's pulling national guards from border-we invade two countries but want put troops on the mexican border is dead wrong-drugs and terrorists are coming across our border big time-Obama and Holder planed Fast and Furious to make it look like anyone could buy guns and sneak to Mexico's drug cartel who killed our border guard with one of those guns-the whole ideal was to attack American from not being able to own guns-Obama nad holder plus his goons are doing everything to outlaw gun ownership,Cliinton is going to signed a UN treaty to ban gun ownership hoping to over ride our Constitution-2nd Admendment-the right of the people to bear arms,shall not be infringed.When citixen can't own guns then we become sunjects of the government...
So much for reconciliation between NK and SK. Dead as a doornail. Always was with terrorist leaders in control of NK
WAIT ONE... They were crossing into China?? I'm sorry but I'm lsot here. Why would anyone try to escape North Korea by going to China. That's like from the frying pan into the fry. And just who really shot them? the North Koreans or the Chinese. This story makes absolutely no sense.
At least China has food:(
China is a better choice than N.K. And the article is pretty clear it was the North Koreans that did the shooting.
The story makes no sense to logical humans. Once you begin to understand the dire situation in North Korea, then you may look at this differently. China is downright affluent compared to North Korea. The Chinese feed their dogs better than the North Korean government feeds its own people.. Everything is relative.
To bad that the Mexican Government does not do the same thing.
Overland, you need to read more often, it will help with your comprehension. Now if I had to chose China or N.K., I would have my rear end sitting in China.
From China they have a much easier time making their way to South Korea, rather than getting shot trying to cross the DMZ.
China would have sent them back. China does not want North Korans they only want North Korea as defensive block against the west. There main trading and manufacturing partner is china. There is allot of back scratching here. The people do not count, they are just slaves.
WAIT ONE... They were crossing into China?? I'm sorry but I'm lost here. Why would anyone try to escape North Korea by going to China. That's like from the frying pan into the fry. And just who really shot them? the North Koreans or the Chinese. This story makes absolutely no sense.
As much as I feel bad for them, I think we need to be focusing on our own problems. We can keep an eye on them, make sure things are not out of hand, but we don't need to even consider getting involved. I'm sorry they're starving and such and things are crappy, but we need to be focusing on our own things here in the US.
Seriously? "I'm sorry they're starving and such and things are crappy"-- are you kidding me? You're not really sorry. Things aren't just "crappy" in the land of North Korea-- things are H.E.L.L. So many people die from malnutrition, their prison camps/ labor camps, and from trying to flee for freedom and exercise their own right to humanity!!
I agree with you in that we should focus on our own problems BUT this is a time where the world needs to focus on the sensitive state of North Korea that just lost thier idol.
Wait till after the 2012 election. In the meantime, try to appreciate how good we have it right now. Rats and bugs could be our cuisine of the future, too.
It's too difficult for North Koreans to escape directly to South Korea. So they usually go to China and from there try to make it to South Korea.
In recent years security at the North Korea-China border had gotten pretty lax, and North Koreans could sometimes bribe border guards and thereby cross over into China. But it seems that with the changing of the guard in NK they may be beefing up security at the border once again.
The three North Korean defectors were shot by North Korean soldiers.
If you ranked countries by military spending, we outspend the next 27 highest countries on the list combined. We won the cold war because Russia went broke trying to keep up with us militarily. North Korea has a huge military but everyone is starving to death. America is on a road we don't want to be on. Our military is contributing much to overspending, but we would rather cut social security and health care than make fewer bombs. We may be more similar to the North Koreans than we like to admit. The British had their time in the sun as well...and they overspent on their military too. Wake up America.
Defense spending as a percentage of GDP= 4.7%
Entitlement (Social Security, Medicare, Medicade) spending as a percentage of GDP= 10%
Entitlement Spending as a percentage of GDP by the year 2050 = 100%
The above are according to the Goverment Accounting Office.
If North Korea continues to shoot people trying to leave the country, at some point in time there will be no one left to shoot because they will have all been shot except the "Last Man Standing". Go for it North Korea.
Welcome to the Hotel North Korea...you can check in anytime you like, but you may never leave.
wow those north korean's really love their leader huh ? love me or you will die pigs ! well here we go with another midget that needs squashed lmfao ! kim jong un ------ your countrymen hate your fargin guts beotch !
i do not blame them for trying to get to china ! those chinese gals are HOT !
nee how ! nee hway sure poo tong hwa ma ?
Wow, things must be really sh*tty if fleeing to China is a freedom upgrade.
soulda shot kim jung un instead!!!!!!!!!!
"NK may be insane, starfox, but let us not forget that we in the US are cutting social aid, but spend more on the military than the rest of the world combined."
North Korea shoots its own citizens dead simply for trying to leave the country, but the America-hating left can't help using it as a chance to bash America.
Don't forget we have a welfare system that people of other countries are fleeing to the US to get. We are the only country that pays citizens to be lazy asses. People who never work are taken care of better than the folks who have worked their whole life and paid into the system. I mean come on, free food, free medical, free housing, free money and yes now a free cell phone.
Tom, what the hell are you talking about? "America-hating left", what utter nonsense!
Welfare was never intended to become a Occupation but somehow it IS just that.
I hate to say this, but at the time our Constitution was written, Politics wasn't intended to become an occupation either....
Looks like business as usual in North Korea. Very tough emigration policies.
Crazy world. North Korea shoots people who want to leave their country. Mexico encourages people to leave their country.
If the citizens of North Korea possessed guns the government could not supress them!
This confirms to me that those the N Korean propaganda media showed crying over losing their dictator were actually crying because they realized nothing was going to change with the transfer of power to his plump son.
Better to die trying to escape hell on earth than to sit idle and accept it.
I was kind of thinking the same way... at least they are free now.
Actually, their family will have to sort out the mess (if those defectors have surviving family members). The way it works in these type of countries is that the family (members) will be blacklisted in any social advancement (education, gov jobs, traveling, business paperwork, etc) or imprison and confiscated assets if anyone/relative in the family caught talking bad about government, fleeing, treason, etc. That is how the government was able to control people from starting a revolt.
23,000 people leaving in 60 years is only about 500 per year. I don't have the exact number at my fingertips, but haven't we had about 40,000 butcheries in Mexico within the last ten years? And how many (12,000,000) have "escaped" from Mexico to the U.S. in the same time? Maybe we need to tend to our own business on our side of the world.
There are those who want to shoot Mexicans coming to America - coming to what WAS ONCE MEXICO. I live in Arizona which I still consider Mexico and will always be. It was stolen by USA during war but is traditional Mexico.
Your point being what?
what the heck are you talking about?
Arizona is part of the United States, not Mexico.
If you want to be in Mexico, drive south till you get there.
No it wasn't. Spain was just trying to capture the moment and make the North American west coast a Spanish territory. We simply kicked theirbutts.
lumis, time to go back to grade school and re-take geography. Pay attention this time. Either that or swim back across the river and spend some time in the real Mexico.
lumis - Gadsden Purchase mean anything to you? Huh? Thought not.
Shooting your own citizens?! From a military perspective how can these soldiers feel proud of themselves and what they do? They are nothing but murderous terrorist thugs and not soldiers, if they are killing their own people. Even if they feel threatened by death from their government if not following such insane orders, you still stand down from such killing of innocent unarmed, zero threat civilian lives.
same ole same ole in NK