There are a number of reasons why people cannot leave North Korea without permission from the government.

• Legal restrictions. North Korean law states that leaving the country without permission is a crime of “treason against the nation,” punishable by death.
• Physical isolation. North Korea is a very isolated country, with heavily guarded borders and strict controls on travel.
• Economic restrictions. North Koreans are generally very poor, and do not have the resources to travel abroad without government permission.
• Fear of punishment. North Koreans who are caught trying to escape or who are returned to North Korea from China face severe punishment, including torture, forced labor, and imprisonment in political prison camps.

Despite these restrictions, thousands of North Koreans have risked their lives to escape the country in recent years. Most defectors travel to China, and then try to make their way to South Korea or another country.