More North Koreans are escaping to Thailand via an 'underground railroad'

"Despite its distance, Thailand is actually one of the closest reachable nations where North Koreans can reasonably expect that the government will deliver them to South Korean officials. That is the goal: defecting to South Korea, their estranged and far more prosperous sibling nation.

This North Korea-to-Thailand route is now seeing what Reuters calls a “surge” in new travelers. According to the news agency, 385 North Koreans were processed as unauthorized entrants in the first six months of 2017.

At this rate, Thailand could expect to receive 700 or 800 by the year’s end. That would signal a remarkable uptick over last year’s 500 or so North Korean arrivals in Thailand.

The reasons for this surge are unclear. But all of those who undertake this journey are desperate almost by definition. Many trials await them, especially during the overland route to China."