Is this total BS?
If I was a North Korean, and war broke out, and I had an opportunity and/or necessity to flee somewhere, I would head south. Why would I go to Chinese Communism, and not Korean Freedom? Communism is the problem, not the solution.
The Chinese would send refugees back to North Korea after the war if the Kims survived, and then they would be distributed to Death Kamps.
Fleeing to SK through a hail of rocket and artillery fire might ruin your day.
“If I was a North Korean, and war broke out, and I had an opportunity and/or necessity to flee somewhere, I would head south.”
If they head south, they would have to cross the heavily mined and defended DMZ. Probably easier crossing the China/Nork boundary.
I expect NK troops would have standing orders to shoot defectors. Conflict on the North South border would thin out the NK China border troop numbers, thus providing an opportunity for civilians to enter China.
Surrendering soldiers, if they were smart, would dig in deep and let the enemy overun then surrender to the 2nd echelon. Combat troops in the process of securing their mission objectives are much more likely to shoot-first-ask-questions-later.
Fleeing toward the rear is very likely to get you shot by your own security forces.
Case in point: Saddam’s infantry in Desert Storm.
I doubt they have a clue where they should flee to... just “away” is probably the goal.