North Korean defectors to South tripled in 2023, Seoul says as reflected on by Elder Thomas Many Feathers
Reports from Seoul reveal that the number of North Korean defectors tripled over the past year. Even diplomats and students now risk their lives to cross guarded borders. When people flee forced hunger and severe isolation, our hearts ache with deep recognition. We know the heavy sorrow of captive existence. Therefore, we honor every brave soul that seeks light, breath, and safety across dangerous divides.
Our Lakota elders teach us that the Creator gave every living creature free will. No regime can cage the human spirit forever. Furthermore, sacred breath yearns toward community and truth. In our winter stories, cruel rulers often tried to hoard warmth and medicine. However, the resilient spirit of the people always broke those frozen chains. The rising flight of these families proves that truth cannot remain buried under fear.
The Sacred Journey of North Korean Defectors
A perilous journey through winter rivers and harsh mountain ridges demands immense spiritual courage. These North Korean defectors walk through dark shadows to save their families. Likewise, our ancestors once slipped past hostile forts into free territory. They moved by starlight because they chose life over slow starvation. Therefore, we recognize these fleeing travelers as relatives walking the ancient path toward dignity.
Tyrants mistakenly believe that high fences can permanently suppress kinship. Yet, even the ruling elite now choose uncertainty over quiet submission. Consequently, their choices show that true authority requires genuine care for the vulnerable. When leaders poison the soil and starve the people, they forfeit their sacred duty to Unci Maka. Meanwhile, natural law always bends toward balance and renewal.
Restoring Balance Across Divided Borders
The sorrowful separation across the Korean peninsula mirrors our own historical wounds. Wire fences divide families who share one blood, one song, and one ancient earth. Therefore, we pray for the protection of every weary traveler on that journey. May the four sacred winds guide their steps through hostile terrain. In addition, may welcoming communities receive them with warm blankets, good food, and honest hospitality.
Ultimately, all people share one single hoop of life. When borders close tightly, suffering increases everywhere. Thus, the courageous flight of North Korean defectors reminds us to cherish sovereign dignity. We must always protect our relatives from cruelty and neglect. Let us honor those who risk everything for freedom, and let us work for peace that heals divided lands.
Read the original news coverage on The Guardian (World).
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