Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

North Korean Defector Recalls Torturous Years


Tue 13 Nov 2018 | 03:04 PM
Mohamed Wadie

 

 

Covered by: Mohamed Wadie

SEOUL, Nov. 13 (SEE)- Being born on the tyrannous side of the river, North Koreans face challenges like no other. From a very young age, they fight for requisite freedom world citizens take for granted. 

Talking to a 22-year-old man, who preferred not to mention his name, it was clear that Kim’s regime brainwashes the people’s minds. “Korean people have no idea of ​​Kim's nuclear program. All they know is that the state is globally oppressed and sanctioned without any reasons.”

He continued: “In the North, they convince us that America invaded the South, then allied with Seoul and declared war on the North, but when I ran off I came to realize that the North is the one who ignited the war.”

Besides schools that organize trips to watch general executions, hitting children is the most brutal thing in Pyongyang.

“I once saw a case of execution on a school trip. I was afraid and could not sleep for 3 days,” recounted the young man. “At 12, I was unconvinced of North Korea and began to question why authorities treat us like this.”

 

 

The youthful man who fled North Korea at the age of 18 said that the government of Pyongyang has set out a list of songs and movies for its citizens. “When I was young, I wanted to hear songs and watch movies other than those in the list.”

Recalling his schooling days, the refugee elaborated: “I was once subjected to corporal punishment for listening to a song from the south. I wrote an official apology to the whole school.” 

This was a mild punishment because he was a student. “Adults would be sentenced to 15 years imprisonment if caught listening to illegal music.”

Prior to fleeing via China to Seoul, his mother used to trade at illegal markets, ignored by the government, to afford the living expenses as his father works for the government without pay. 

Accompanied by a friend, the young man succeeded to reach northern China through a walkway over the shallow Yalu river. “The major obstacle is the northern border forces and to overcome it defectors have one of two options; either to pay costly bribes or to escape through the dangerous route at night.”

In northern China, they hurried to take a bus heading south to escape safely to Thailand where communication with South Korea is accessible.   

Chinese authorities apprehend escapees and send them back to North Korea, “If that happened, we could have been arrested forever.”  

Upon arriving in South Korea, he underwent medical examination.

 

 

Meanwhile, the northern millennial studies physical education. His current defiance is the language barrier as new terminology has evolved, especially among youth.

“Since settling in, I have been considering my life goals; one of my dreams is to work for a human rights organization. I'm the best scientist without weapons," he concluded.