A family of North Korean defectors who were discovered by fishermen recently spoke in an interview with the media. North Korean defectors entrusted their lives to a small 7.5-meter-long boat as they sailed across the Sea of Japan in search of freedom.
After drifting for over an hour, they crossed the Northern Limit Line and crossed into South Korea. We asked Mr. A, who is in his 40s, and his sister B, who led the defection, about the actual situation in North Korea and the situation at the time.
Mr. A, who lived in Hamgyongnam-do (South Hamgyong Province), said, ``Our family worked hard, bought a wooden boat, and made a living by collecting clams.''
It was. Continuing, Mr. A said, ``I tried as much as I could, but day by day it became harder to make ends meet,'' adding, ``I can't continue to live like this, so I decided to change direction and go to South Korea.''
I decided to do it," he continued. The reason Mr. A and others judged that there was a high chance of success by going to the Sea of Japan and defecting from North Korea was due to a lack of information. Mr. A is a person who successfully escaped from North Korea by going to the Sea of Japan.
I heard that there are about 8 groups. I believed that story and thought I would follow suit, but when I came to South Korea, there wasn't a single person there."
It's the first time I've heard of it," he said. Mr. A's family had been involved in clam hunting as a family business, so they were able to escape from North Korea by avoiding surveillance by the North Korean authorities.
Mr. B said, ``In North Korea, we are following the instructions of Kim Yo Jong, deputy director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
``I covered the wooden boat with iron plates,'' he said, ``I was able to escape because my family was the only one who didn't have to cover it with iron plates for 60 days.'' If you cover a wooden boat with an iron plate
They explain that they are visible on radar and cannot escape from North Korea. Contrary to initial predictions that they would be able to reach South Korea within a few hours, it took them three days to escape from North Korea. Wooden material they used to escape from North Korea
This is because the ship's engine is a cultivator, and can only reach speeds of 3 to 4 kilometers per hour. Mr. A said, ``I left North Korea at 10:30 pm on September 22nd and arrived in South Korea in the early hours of the 24th.
``A North Korean patrol boat followed us from behind for about two hours until we crossed the Northern Limit Line. I looked at the full moon and prayed for help,'' he recalled.
Mr. A continued, saying, ``The waves were so strong that every time we hit the waves, I was so shocked that my head would split open, and I couldn't eat anything because I was so seasick.''
added. It is said that he prepared to defect from North Korea while watching South Korean television broadcasts. Mr. B said, ``I was secretly watching South Korean news and information programs, as well as programs that convey the reality of people who defected from North Korea.''
``I heard that South Korea would help me,'' he said. ``After thinking about how I would survive, I decided to make up my mind after my daughter persuaded me that things would go well.''
They say North Korea's food shortages are far more serious than is known in South Korea. Mr. B said, ``Since August last year,
"I bought rice using a food ration card that cost 25,000 won (North Korea's currency) because there was a notice banning the use of foreign currencies such as dollars," he said. km 38
00 won, but the price has now risen to 7,000 won on the market." Mr. B continued, ``After experiencing the COVID-19 virus, North Korea would only have one lighter if it weren't for China.''
"I came to know that this is a country in which we cannot create a new country," he said, adding, "There are many people who want to come to South Korea, but none of them can make up their minds. If they are sent back to North Korea, they will be shot." tell me that
Ta. Regarding the fourth generation succession of Joo Ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jung Eun, he said, ``Even within North Korea, we are thinking negatively about it.''
Mr. B said, ``Look at how well Kim Jong-un eats and how fat he is.'' At the end of his sentence, he says, ``For the great people,'' but it's all a lie.
The reality is that most people are starving to death." They will soon begin living in Korea after completing their training at Hana Institute. Retention support per person is 100 per household based on one person.
It costs 0,000 won (approximately 1.1 million yen). Because they live in a household of three, they will receive 21 million won (approximately 2.34 million yen) in settlement support.
Mr. A's family is currently worried about their livelihood in South Korea. Mr. A said, ``I want to try this and that right away, so I'm currently researching.
"We are also looking into qualifications such as nursing assistants," he said, expressing his desire to become a permanent fixture in South Korea.
2024/02/05 07:14 KST
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