Escape from North Korea

A book and escape routes

The next morning I was rudely woken up by a book falling on my head. "Ouch, that damn book," I muttered under my breath. Curious, I looked at the cover and read the intriguing title: "The True History of North Korea."

I flipped through the pages and quickly realized that much of what I had learned was pure propaganda. I would like to tell you the story about this. North Korea is ruled by the Kim dynasty, which tells its story very differently than the rest of the world understands it. Kim Il-sung, the country's founder, is revered as a hero who protected the country from Japanese occupation and the USA. The Korean War (1950-1953) is considered an honorable struggle for unity, not the result of external interference.

Under Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un, the leaders are portrayed almost as gods, pushing North Korea forward with their vision. This view contradicts international reports of human rights violations and economic crises.
Although famine and isolation are reported outside, North Korea speaks of self-sufficiency and technological progress through the Juche Ideology. Any criticism of this portrayal will not be tolerated in the country.

“Tam, come eat!” my parents shouted. I quickly closed the book and hid it. My parents would only worry unnecessarily and fear that they would be sent to a forced camp. Their fear was justified because of the conditions in such camps were unimaginably cruel.

At dinner they worriedly asked me if I was okay because I looked so worried. I reassured them that everything was fine, while my gaze instinctively shifted to the portrait of Kim Il-sung, which seemed to be watching me. But I quickly shook the thought away.

I planned to show my grandfather the map I found in the book. He spent a lot of time listening to illegal radio stations and therefore knew a lot about escape routes. The idea was risky because if he got caught, it could mean forced camp for our entire family.

After breakfast, I put the map in my pocket and went to the rice field where I saw my grandfather already working. I quietly asked him for the card. He was surprised but wanted to know where I got them. After my explanation, he pointed out how dangerous having such a map could be and quietly explained to me the different escape routes.

He explained that South Korea was actually the safest option because you could get a passport there straight away. But the border is extremely heavily guarded, with barbed wire, high walls and landmines. "The last one who made it was shot five times, lost half of his blood and had to spend five months in the hospital," he added. The eastern and western borders were less strictly controlled, but the attempt to get there by boat Escape was almost hopeless. The border to China was also less guarded, but the danger of being sent back was great. And anyone who is sent back ends up in a forced camp - a cruel place marked by merciless hardship. The short border with Russia could could be surmountable, but here too there was the threat of deportation. And the idea of swimming to Japan was practically impossible due to the distance and stormy weather.
"Be careful, child, don't even think about it - it's impossible to escape," he advised me. Despite the risks, his knowledge and experience made me feel a little safer. But the decision to escape was far-reaching and not without its consequences Dangers. When I went to bed that day, I knew there had to be a way to escape, I just didn't know what it was. But one thing was clear to me: I had to escape North Korea to give my family a chance to give a life of freedom. In North Korea, not only those who commit an offense suffer, but also their family members down to the following generations. The dictatorship completely isolated us from the outside world, and many people suffered from poverty and hunger. We were left with none other choice than to flee to escape the endless repression. We hoped for a better future, far from the isolation and hunger that characterized our lives.