picture of the day

Return trip

28 Comments

North Korean defectors are escorted by South Korean officers upon their arrival from Japan at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, on Tuesday.

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28 Comments
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Looks like it is cold there already.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It is amazing how small the North Koreans are compared to the South Koreans

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It is amazing how small the North Koreans are compared to the South Koreans

That's because Lil Kim isn't feeding his people.

Good on the South Koreans for protecting their identities as much as possible.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

They are carrying 'gomibukuro' or 'miyagebukuro?'

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Heres hoping for a better future for these people!!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@kurisupisu

Interesting observation, I didn't think of that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Groovy police uniforms

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"North Korea suffered chronic food shortage due to series of drought and crop failures (also the fundamental flaw of the socialist system of collective farming). The articles says that average height difference is significant, as of 2005, the average height of people aged between 20 and 39 in North Korea is 154.9cm (5.08ft) for females and 165.6cm (5.43ft) for males, while the average height for the South Korean is 159.1cm (5.21ft) for females and 172.5cm (5.65ft) for males. "

Interesting!

Anyway good luck to these new citizens of South Korea! Let's hope they will be able to see a democratic reunification of their country (and the dislocation of the dictatorship in the northern part of the country) during their lifetime.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Those poor people really look frail. I hope they will find a good life and happiness in SK.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Glad to see they made it safe, best luck to them for a better life.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Euh I think most of them are children. But yeah lets hope they will lead a better life now.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The headline "Return Trip" is strange. Can JT provide an explanation? These people are definitely not returning where they came from.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

north and south korean are same race and they are like brother. i hope they will stop to fight each others.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

We can only hope that more people like these guys have the courage to escape successfully from that brutal and disgusting regime north of the 38th parallel, and in turn it become an uprising that leads to the collapse of the regime similar to what we've seen in the Arab world this year. Sadly, Kim Jong Ill keeps his people even more suppressed than Ghadaffi and similar Arabic despots so sadly it will take something major for an uprising in North Korea to ever eventuate.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Return trip" means they are returning to the Korean Peninsula where they came from.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I'm surprised this photo was allowed to be taken, let alone published. Glad they got into SK safely.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Return trip" means they are returning to the Korean Peninsula where they came from.

Au contraire.

They are already in South Korea.

My question is, how did they get to Japan in the first place?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@DentShop

These people came from North Korea on a boat. Haven't you been following? I was actually answering @Mizuame.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Crazy, where did you see/read that? Haven't heard anything about it.

Got to keep in mind too re height difference that these guys are military and for the job they have, would tend to be larger than the average South Korean.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

tmarie - the height of an individual in the military has absolutely nothing to do with them just being in the military. S. Koreans are conscripted into the military. Every male between the ages of 18 and 35 are required to serve 2 years in the military; REGARDLESS OF HEIGHT. That is one of the most assinine things I have read on here.

As for the N. Koreans, I wish them the best of luck, one can only imagine what it is really like in that country and the hardships every normal family is trying to live through...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The North Koreans are tiny! A tribute to the food situation in the Workers` Paradise?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The North Koreans may be small, but they're deadly, go on youtube and look up the North Korean Army, they're pretty malicious 0.0, but still why are they so small compared to the ROK soldiers?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well, I hope they can find jobs. I just hope there are not harrassed .

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Or maybe sleeper cell agents Who knows ? I do not see any children ??? HHMMMMMMM

0 ( +0 / -0 )

sad about all the great Xylish toothpaste they had to throw away at customs.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Mike, from my experience those in the fire dept, police force, military are usually stronger and taller that your average. The small guys don't continue on. Most Korean males get their military time done ASAP. The guys in the picture are clearly not just two year years doing their basic training. I'm not disagreeing that the North Koreans on average are way shorter but to look at the picture and assume all South Korean guys look like that would be incorrect.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

tmarie - I never assumed that. I was clearly stating that their height has nothing to do with being in the military. The military doesn't make the "taller, stronger" guys stay in. Those individuals decide to. Your statement before said, "Got to keep in mind too re height difference that these guys are military and for the job they have, would tend to be larger than the average South Korean". That means nothing for the job they have. I know people that are small, but stronger than some taller guys, I know some overweight people that have those same positions. Their height has nothing to do with it. If you can lift a certain weight when you come in, then your set for that job. Height doesn't ever come into job choices in the military.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What?!? How could these people defect? I thought Socialistic socieites are and were the envy of the world! How could they leave a utopia like North Korea?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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