Best of: Defecting from North Korea
North Korean flags are carried during a celebration of the nation's 73rd founding anniversary in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sept. 9, 2021. AP Photo/Cha Song Ho
North Korea tends to come-and-go in the US news cycles. Usually when it does make an appearance, it’s related to its leader Kim Jong-un and the latest nuclear tests. Americans know so-very-little about North Korea, in-part due to the government having total control over the media. North Korea officially describes itself as a “independent socialist state” and is run as a totalitarian dictatorship. Life in North Korea has been documented as difficult and it’s prompted many to defect from the country for a variety of reasons.
We talked with three members of Advocacy Fellows for Liberty in North Korea, or LiNK. They grew up in North Korea and later defected and shared their stories. Kris Song, assistant director of programs translated some of the answers for the guests who do not speak English well.
This conversation originally aired Oct. 24, 2022.
GUESTS:
Hannah Han
Advocacy Fellow, Liberty in North Korea
Noah Park
Advocacy Fellow, Liberty in North Korea
Harry Kim
Advocacy Fellow, Liberty in North Korea
Hannah Song
CEO, Liberty in North Korea
Kris Song
Assistant Director of Programs, Liberty in North Korea (Translator)
Prepared for web by Owen Henderson
Help shape our coverage on The 21st by joining our texting group and answering weekly questions. To join, text “TALK” to 217-803-0730 or sign up with your phone number below: