to the North in the 1960s at the urging of Pyongyang likely would discourage any other would-be emigrants.

Many such returnees suffered hardship and even imprisonment in the North after being promised “Paradise on Earth,” including free food and housing by the regime, with those who escaped describing it as “hell, not paradise.”

Even reunification, a stated goal of both Pyongyang and Seoul, is not seen reversing the demographic decline of either country.

An indicator of the impact comes from Germany, where reunification led to a rapid decline in the birthrate in eastern Germany post-unification, falling to 0.8, according to Troy Stangarone, senior director and fellow at the Korea Economic Institute of America.

While the number of births in the east eventually recovered, the higher fertility rate of 1.6 in some formerSt. Tikhon’s Seminary Mission Choir, led by Assistant Director Paul Kappanadze, visited St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Allison Park, on Saturday and Sunday, March 10 and 11. They sang the responses for the Vigil for the Sunday of the Most Precious Cross, and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. Mission Choir members, parishioners, and invited guests enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the home of Protodeacon Dr. Michael and Mat. Mary Wusylko on Saturday night. Many gathered together also for a luncheon on Sunday following Divine Services. The parish raised over $13,000 for the seminary!

Archpriest Steven Voytovich, Seminary Dean, was asked to lead a parish retreat at the cathedral on Saturday, March 10th. The retreat theme was: “Let us Draw Near in Faith and Love, and Become Communicants of