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Assignment: Korea's People Smugglers

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Korea's People Smugglers

07/07/2011

BBC World Service - Assignment, Korea's People Smugglers

The shadowy world of the brokers who smuggle people out of North Korea

Lucy Williamson reports from South Korea on the shadowy world of the brokers who help people to escape from North Korea.

Defecting from North Korea is a dangerous business.  

It comes at a high price and there's no guarantee of success.   

Many make the journey to South Korea with the help of brokers - individuals and organisations who smuggle people along the illegal overland route known as the "Underground Railroad". 

For Assignment, Lucy Williamson meets some of the brokers in Seoul who make a living helping people escape North Korea.

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