Group Interview of North Korean Defectors

One of my regular readers is a teacher in Seoul who has visited North Korea and now volunteers his time to assist and teach English to North Korean defectors. Several weeks ago, I asked him if he would pose some questions to his students, contingent on them being comfortable answering. My correspondent asked me to be patient while he found the right circumstances to pose the question to the group.

Today, I am pleased to report the responses of the North Korean students, which I print unedited, except for the deletions of details that would reveal their indenties, minor typos, and comments in brackets:

My student age range is between 20 and 30. I have about 25 students in total. Although I have the trust of most of them, a handful seem wary of anyone asking too many questions about NK and thus didn’t answer. There is some justification with this thinking as teachers in NK are generally used to fish out any signs of disloyalty to the regime (remember kids often just tell the truth). Also, I learned it was other defectors that reported that “spy” to the NIS because they were suspicious of him. But I also heard that the defectors were after the reward money for doing so. [One was a soldier serving along the DMZ when he defected–ed].
. . . .

I believe the answers to be truthful and accurate as the students view me as a teacher/friend who has an interest in NK and therefore don’t feel the need to exaggerate their importance or embellish their story (like they may if talking to a journalist or other government official). How I got my answers was to ask the class in general and made notes of the offered information. In addition to that, I interviewed in private and more detail some other students that I am personally closer to. KI, 25, from [omitted], North Hamgyong Province who came to South Korea in Oct. 2001 is the student I am closest to and he arranged a meeting with SI who was a soldier stationed on the DMZ and defected in Feb. 2002 . . . . LY, 29, from South Pyongan Province and YH, female, 21, from Hamhung whose parents are (she believes) both incarcerated at the moment were also helpful with their responses.

Certainly the question with the most divisive answer was whether North Korea could be reformed. Most thought not but a couple believe that Kim Jong-il was pragmatic enough to enact enough changes to ensure his survival. Others believed he would never change and more outside pressure was needed. None had personally seen any anti-government graffiti but one guy from a small place in North Hamgyong had heard about some one writing “why are the people so hungry?” at a train station that was thoroughly investigated.

Almost unanimously they thought that if an anti-government uprising had
“momentum” it would be supported by the general population. Even one student from Pyongyang said that.

Banditry is common, usually by those in uniform, and KI said an old Korean proverb about “a man with daughters not needing to lock his house at night” is no longer relevant. In hindsight, I’m not sure if he meant because of rape or theft. The banditry is usually just for food or goods for the soldiers involved and done without their superior officers’ knowledge, as if caught that is grounds for punishment. This was explained to me that the Army is the “Peoples’ Army” and the official hope is that the people have genuine support and affection for their Army, although they often don’t.

Military service is compulsory for about ten years with exceptions given for lesser service. Until the early 1990’s it was considered honorable and a good opportunity to improve oneself (better rations and everyday supplies). However that’s not the case so much anymore and they have shortages as well. SI said that the DMZ based troops are treated better than those stationed in the provinces and they are constantly reminded of this with the threat of (and actual) banishment to another place as a method of punishment. LY and SI both explained that it is military policy to station one in another province than one’s hometown. This serves the dual purpose of deterring desertion and taking advantage of regional rivalries by making the stationed soldiers less sympathetic to the local people. What I mean by this is somewhat analogous to having a New Yorker stationed in rural Texas and vise-versa with each having a patronizing view of the other.

Training is brutally tough with the justification that the US and South Korean forces will only be defeated by mental and physical endurance. An interesting point is that both men told me they were taught that Americans are personally and individually weak, can have their spirit broken easily and can most certainly be defeated. Neither could answer if they thought this was taught this as a morale booster or if that is the genuine belief of the NK military. Punishment is frequent with withholding food and extra work common and cigarettes and soju given as rewards.

Nobody knew the whereabouts of the weapons but all presumed [them] to be heavily guarded as a civilian gun or gun on the black market is worth its weight in gold.

Everybody conveyed to me the thirst for knowledge of the outside world (esp. South Korea and China). From my questioning, I have established that apart from the obvious hunger, the belief that it was possible to cross the border, perhaps survive in China, and eventually make it to South Korea was the main deciding factor in their defections. All agreed that the Army would bear [spare?] no expense to pick up any leaflets dropped into the NK hinterland. . . . They also added the mobilization of the troops wouldn’t be that difficult as they are often working in the fields and walking the roads anyway.

I put it to my students that now the regime is (perhaps) vulnerable with the removed portraits, explosions, purges etc.–do they think that leaflets dropped in the country would be useful now? All agreed that it would and LY added as most people probably don’t know about the goings-on and that the soldiers enlisted to gather them may have some inquiring minds indeed!

None of my students are involved in any political organization–reason being they are busy with their studies. Also none of their English is at a level to be able to understand what’s being written on your blog-site. I hope this is of some help to you. If you need any more help please don’t hesitate to ask.