They say defecting from North Korea is almost impossible these days

‌Border closures have been tightened since the Kim Jong-un era
(triple barbed wire + increased security)
Due to the policy of thorough control and severe punishment,
even bribes no longer work and brokers have disappeared,
making it virtually impossible, they say.
The total number of defectors who have entered South Korea is 35,000
(79% female / 21% male)
During Kim Jong-il's era, 1,000 to 2,000 people arrived every year,
but now it is said to be between 50 and 100 people.
Even those are mostly defectors from before the border tightening,
as most are people who stayed in China for a long time
before crossing over.
(There are 100,000 defectors currently staying in China)
Furthermore, China's cutting-edge facial recognition
and powerful identity verification make defecting even harder,
and if caught, they are sent back to North Korea.
It is said that the Tumen River route is effectively blocked.