Barbed wires and phone tapping prevent North Koreans from escaping

People of North Korea would like to defect to neighboring countries like China or South Korea but, are unable to do so because ever since Kim Jong-Un has come to power, the barbed wire fencing has been strengthened and phone lines are being tapped.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 22 May 2015.

In 2009, it was 2,914 defections from North Korea to South Korea – it was the biggest influx since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. However, Kim Jong-Un's first year in power in 2012, the figure of defections had dropped to just 1,502. That works out to a 44% drop on the previous year. And, last year, the number fell further to 1,396.
The main motivation of defection 10-years ago was food, it has now shifted to freedom.
In view of increased risks, people who make arrangements for people to escape, have nearly doubled their charges to about $8,000 (£5,100) per person and, this is beyond the reach of most North Koreans.< (Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

A few more must reads -

Nashik Kumbhmela 2015 – a once in 12-years pilgrimage

Trip to Nashik should take in Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the epic Ramayana

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the Mahabharata

Kumbhmela 2015 in Nashik – guided tours to wineries and vineyards

Nashik transforms from a place of pilgrimage to an industrial hub


Activists on kayaks protest against drilling for oil in Alaska

Disenchanted with rosy promises of a life with the ISIS, three British girls escape

Over 600 stranded migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar rescued by local fishermen

British spy chiefs recruiting computer geeks for £27,913 to help fight terrorists, criminal gangs and hackers

Ancient 2000-year-old city of Palmyra in Syria targeted for destruction by ISIS

I become a detective to trace a missing consignment


Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

Another interesting blog - Ramblings