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COVID-19 Upends North Korean Defectors in Britain

Eunjung Cho

   Jihyun Park, a North Korean defector in London, had heard stories that
   other defectors in Britain were having a tough time making ends meet as
   the coronavirus disrupted daily life.

   She responded by packing up dozens of boxes with rice and spicy beef
   flavor Korean-style instant noodles bought with her own money and
   sending them to ease the lives of North Korean families just barely
   getting by.

   "This lockdown period is comparable to wartime," said Park, a human
   rights activist who was born in North Korea's east coast port city of
   Chongjin and arrived in Britain in 2008. "Many North Korean defectors
   lost their jobs and are staying at home. The lockdown was enforced
   suddenly and some people couldn't stock up on food, so I wanted to
   provide what little help I can."

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