MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The number of North Korean citizens that went across the border to South Korea totaled 749 in the period between January and June, compared to 614 similar cases last year, Unification Ministry data revealed, as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.
As of late June, the total number of North Korean defectors hit 29,543. The number is predicted to possibly pass 30,000 people in 2016.
The pace of the growth of the number of defectors in North Korea is said to have slowed down since 2011 amid boosted border controls.
In 2015, the number stood at 1,276, which was a decrease from almost 1,400 in the previous year.
Some North Koreans are known to be fleeing to China first before attempting to reach South Korea.
