North Korea Defections Surge Over New Year’s

A North Korean military check point is seen from an observation post in Panmunjom, South Korea, on Sept. 28, 2017. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

A surge of North Koreans tried to flee the prison state over the New Year, hoping security would be lightened during celebrations, according to sources in Ryanggang Province, in the northeast of North Korea.

Many of them were arrested.