The perils and hardships of refugees *

Under the oppression of the feared demagogue, Kim Jong-Un, thousands of North Koreans flee their home country every year in search of a better life. The combination of extreme hunger, fear, and potential economic opportunity motivates refugees to risk their families’ lives by making the dangerous trek to China, or to abandon their families and make the journey alone. ¹ This unfortunate situation allows human traffickers the opportunity to exploit refugees, of whom nearly 75 percent are women. In fact, 70–90 percent of women who venture into China fall prey to sex traffickers. ²