Minhwan Lee
2009-07-15 09:02:24 UTC
Time for Kim to Go
¡°Even in North Korea, they are saying that it is time for the Kim Jong Il
regime to collapse.¡±
Four defectors currently being educated before life in South Korean society
gave interviews with South Korean and foreign reporters on the 8th at a
commemorative event for the 10th Anniversary of the opening of Hanawon, the
government facility which prepares defectors for South Korean life. They
talked about their motivations for fleeing the country and the present
reality of North Korea.
According to a 30 year old woman, Hwang, who defected from North Korea just
this year, ¡°The politics which Kim Jong Il is practicing at the moment
should already have been stopped. I hope political reform takes place in
North Korea and the same system as South Korea has is adopted,¡± she added.
Not feeling any emotion on the 15th anniversary of Kim Il Sung¡¯s death, she
raised her voice, ¡°North Koreans have this perception that while they
cannot even eat or dress properly, all the money is spent on military
purposes,¡± and stressed, ¡°People are all about to starve to death and they¡¯re wasting their money on military schemes.¡±
About the strong and prosperous state the North Korean authorities have been
talking about, she said, ¡°During the March of Tribulation I expected that
we were going to improve like other countries, but there is no difference
even after 15 years, so I decided there was no hope or future anymore.¡± She
continued, ¡°They claim that North Korea has already become a strong and
prosperous state, but it is nonsense.¡±
Lee, a woman in her 30s who escaped from the North last November, said ¡°No
matter what the government says, people do not buy it anymore. Even though
they say the ¡®strong and prosperous state¡¯ will come soon, no one believes
it will happen,¡± she added.
They all said they had not heard anything about rumors of Kim¡¯s health or
North Korea¡¯s succession system. Most of them crossed the border last year
or early this year, so were supposedly not there long enough to hear any
rumors about Kim¡¯s successor.
Kim, another defector pointed out, ¡°We are not allowed to say anything
about Kim¡¯s family. The most severe punishment is given to those who talk
about it.¡±
Meanwhile, they all said they were worried about their families in North
Korea. ¡°We believe we have to hold back our tears and live our lives to the
fullest, in order to meet our children and family in the future,¡± they said
bravely.
Also, they said that even though they do have some fears about Korean
society, they are being educated well at Hanawon. ¡°With Hanawon built and
related laws established, thanks to South Korean support, we will meet
people¡¯s expectations and live our lives well,¡± they emphasized.
¡°Even in North Korea, they are saying that it is time for the Kim Jong Il
regime to collapse.¡±
Four defectors currently being educated before life in South Korean society
gave interviews with South Korean and foreign reporters on the 8th at a
commemorative event for the 10th Anniversary of the opening of Hanawon, the
government facility which prepares defectors for South Korean life. They
talked about their motivations for fleeing the country and the present
reality of North Korea.
According to a 30 year old woman, Hwang, who defected from North Korea just
this year, ¡°The politics which Kim Jong Il is practicing at the moment
should already have been stopped. I hope political reform takes place in
North Korea and the same system as South Korea has is adopted,¡± she added.
Not feeling any emotion on the 15th anniversary of Kim Il Sung¡¯s death, she
raised her voice, ¡°North Koreans have this perception that while they
cannot even eat or dress properly, all the money is spent on military
purposes,¡± and stressed, ¡°People are all about to starve to death and they¡¯re wasting their money on military schemes.¡±
About the strong and prosperous state the North Korean authorities have been
talking about, she said, ¡°During the March of Tribulation I expected that
we were going to improve like other countries, but there is no difference
even after 15 years, so I decided there was no hope or future anymore.¡± She
continued, ¡°They claim that North Korea has already become a strong and
prosperous state, but it is nonsense.¡±
Lee, a woman in her 30s who escaped from the North last November, said ¡°No
matter what the government says, people do not buy it anymore. Even though
they say the ¡®strong and prosperous state¡¯ will come soon, no one believes
it will happen,¡± she added.
They all said they had not heard anything about rumors of Kim¡¯s health or
North Korea¡¯s succession system. Most of them crossed the border last year
or early this year, so were supposedly not there long enough to hear any
rumors about Kim¡¯s successor.
Kim, another defector pointed out, ¡°We are not allowed to say anything
about Kim¡¯s family. The most severe punishment is given to those who talk
about it.¡±
Meanwhile, they all said they were worried about their families in North
Korea. ¡°We believe we have to hold back our tears and live our lives to the
fullest, in order to meet our children and family in the future,¡± they said
bravely.
Also, they said that even though they do have some fears about Korean
society, they are being educated well at Hanawon. ¡°With Hanawon built and
related laws established, thanks to South Korean support, we will meet
people¡¯s expectations and live our lives well,¡± they emphasized.