AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION SUPPORT

If the Kim Jong-Ill Government would simply promise to feed me , I would go back to North Korea tomorrow ~

Interview with

North Korean Refugee 11/10/08

A Bi-Weekly Newsletter Issue 3 - December 11th, 2008 AIMS in the US: Interview part 1. Updates: North Korean Women Trafficking in Upcoming Issues Life for North Korean defectors in the Laos: (page 3). Our next issue (Dec. 25) will be the second United States varies dramatically from one part of AIMS in the US and will detail a case to another. This past week AIMS In our last issue, we reported that AIMS had been given information about a young girl number of individuals and organizations in members flew to Los Angeles to meet with the Los Angeles area and throughout the US North Korean defectors currently residing in being held in Laos against her will. After personally visiting Laos and confirming both that are committed to assisting North Korean and around the greater Los Angeles area. Defectors. AIMS also met with several groups working the identities of the girl and her captor AIMS to assist North Korean defectors through has also learned new details. Our fourth issue (Jan. 8) will address a major various channels. This is the first part of a area of social adaptation that AIMS is two part series and details an interview with concerned with: the psychological challenges Mr. Song, a North Korean defector. that North Korean defectors must overcome.

years. He is currently unemployed and famine of the late 90’s, with his girlfriend North Koreans in says it is difficult to find a job. However, with whom he is now married and has a his unemployment is not a condition of son. While in North Korea, Mr. Song’s the U.S. (part 1) his illegal entry into the United States, occupation was manager of a logging Life for North Korean defectors in the because when he filed for asylum in the crew. Unlike many North Korean U.S. he was granted a one-year working defectors, Mr. Song did not hire a broker United States varies dramatically from permit that could be extended annually to lead him out of North Korea, but one case to another. This past week pending review of his asylum petition. instead, simply “looked at a map” and AIMS members flew to Los Angeles to made his journey from North Korea, meet with North Korean defectors The second North Korean defector we through China and Mongolia, to South currently residing in and around the had planned to interview was Mr. Song. Korea. While many North Koreans who greater Los Angeles area. We also met We were immediately able to get in resettle in South Korea spend several with several groups working to assist touch with Mr. Song and arrange a months in “transition” before they begin North Korean defectors through various dinner appointment at a popular to find work, Mr. Song told us that within channels. This is the first part of a two restaurant in Korea Town. We initially three days of leaving Hanawon (the part series and details an interview with met at a grocery store where Mr. Song South Korean 9 week submersion North Korean Defector Mr. Song. was waiting for us in a late model Toyota program for resettling North Koreans) he Tundra with his four year old son. He subsequently found a job and began Our initial goal was to compare and was wearing blue jeans and a light blue work. He worked in a variety of contrast the lives of two specific defectors Nautica brand polo. We followed him to industries including sales and factory whose circumstances were quite different. the restaurant and for the next two hours work. Within a couple of months Mr. The first of these defectors was Mr. H. listened as he told us of his remarkable Song approached his wife about the Kim. Mr. Kim, who crossed into the life and experiences. prospect of immigrating to the United United States illegally through Mexico, Mr. Song defected from North Korea in States. According to Mr. Song (cont.) has been in the United States for a few early 2003 just following the massive [email protected] / www.aimskorea.org 1 AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL MIGRANT SUPPORT Interview (cont.) Song and his wife both are currently single it’s better not to come… You’re the primary reason for immigrating was working full-time. Mr. Song has his own better off getting married and bringing the opportunity to make more money. interior remodeling business. Upon someone with you because the loneliness arriving in the US he connected himself alone is enough to cause you to give up.” This differs drastically from many North with the Korean community in the LA Mr. Song also stated that without Korean defectors we have interviewed in area and began a type of mentorship question, he would be willing to move South Korea who believe that life in the program in which he followed other anywhere in the US if there was work for United States will offer them much more Korean tradesman, learning everything him to do. than a higher monetary yield, namely he could. Over the next couple of years increased happiness and an overall easier he acquired the necessary skill set and is Thoughts on North Korea: life. Mr. Song stated that he knew that now considered a “master” interior Mr. Song offered an interesting life would be more difficult in the United specialist. As with most self-employed perspective regarding North Korea, US/ States due to a number of factors people, Mr. Song’s work hours and travel NK relations and life in North Korea. including language and cultural vary from job to job. The furthest he has During our discussion about the recent differences. In the end he and his wife traveled for a single job was about 6 removal of North Korea from the US chose to immigrate. The Songs entered hours round trip. Mr. Song always sets Terrorist Watch List, Mr. Song offered the the United States illegally via Mexico and his schedule around his son’s day care following commentary: First, he believes made residence in L.A., California. schedule. that North Korea will never give up its Shortly after his arrival in the United nuclear weapons program because it is States Mr. and Mrs. Song had a son born Mrs. Song currently works as a waitress the only bargaining chip that the North in the US, who is therefore a US citizen. at a Korean Restaurant. She works six Korean government. has and therefore Mr. Song described the key advantage/ days a week from 2PM to 11PM, with will never let go of. He pointed to the disadvantage of living in the United Thursdays off. Mrs. Song brings home recent pause in talks because of the States as being equal treatment for all. around $4000 per month, which pamphlets dropped on North Korea by According to Mr. Song’s experience and according to Mr. Song, is just enough to South Korean human rights groups as an that of many past interviewees, a stigma cover their monthly expenses including, example of “just another excuse” by the still exists in South Korea regarding but not limited to: housing, food, car KJI government. He also believed that North Koreans, causing many to face payment, insurance, day care, medical, many Americans have a very misguided heavy amounts of discrimination in their etc. The Songs have budgeted to put all view of North Koreans. According to Mr. workplace and personal lives.* At the of Mr. Song’s income into savings. Song’s opinion, North Koreans are some same time, this equal treatment can also of the “toughest minded” people on be a hardship. According to Mr. Song, Thoughts on Life in the US: earth. He gave us a variety of examples “The United States treats everyone the Living in the United States is one of the to show the toughness of the North same” and therefore there are no special hardest things that he has ever done, and Korean people. He said that he believed privileges afforded to him in the US. This life is not easy for him and his wife. most would rather die than unify with is unlike South Korea, where modest However, living in the US provides the South Korea or befriend the United amount of funding are given to North best long-term opportunity for creating a States. He also mentioned that the Korean defectors to provide housing and successful and stable life for them and his current economic crisis would not other necessities. (While a variety of son. If the potential for wealth that drastically affect North Korea. He based temporary assistance is provided to existed in the US existed in South Korea, this hypothesis on the fact that most refugees in the United States for up to 8 Mr. Song stated that he would have never North Koreans already live in such months, Mr. Song is not eligible for such moved from South Korea. He has seen poverty that for many, their sole goal is benefits because of his status as an dozens of North Koreans come to the simply to eat daily. The current financial “undocumented” immigrant). United States, only to return to South crisis will do little to change these Korea a short time later because of the people’s lifestyles, as their goal of daily As with Mr. Kim, Mr. and Mrs. Song are difficulties adapting to US culture. He sustenance will remain the same. He also currently awaiting a decision on their expects that he will, over the course of the mentioned that for many of them, while petition for asylum. During this time next several years, see hundreds more family is important, they have a deep they have both been granted one-year come to the US, spend a few months, and selfishness that helps them block out the working permits, renewable annually simply go back to South Korea. His death of their family members due to until they receive their decision. Once a advice for North Koreans thinking about starvation or malnutrition. While they decision is made the Songs will either be moving to the United States: “If you think might feel bad about the loss of a loved granted asylum and be able to receive life in South Korea is difficult, don’t one, ultimately their own survival is the residency and eventually naturalization, come…If all you want to do is eat and priority. (cont.) or, if they are denied, they can appeal the survive, don’t come…You can do that decision or go back to South Korea. Mr. more easily in South Korea…If you’re

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Thoughts on North Korea (cont.) Essentially, tell the KJI regime that they are free to do whatever they want, and Update: Laos He pointed to the number of defectors that the US will not reach out to help who left their families behind, knowing them because they are a sovereign nation. In our last issue, we reported that AIMS that their families would be tortured or However, if the North Korean had been given information about a killed as a direct result of their defection. government needs anything they simply young girl being held in Laos against her When asked about grain and aid being have to ask. While this approach is not will. After personally visiting Laos and sent to North Korea from the US and politically feasible, Mr. Song believes that confirming both the identities of the girl other countries and whether or not the the North Korean government. is smart and her captor AIMS has also learned aid made it to the people instead of just enough to use such a statement by the US new details. the military, Mr. Song also had an to slowly open themselves up under their interesting reply. “Of course the aid gets own conditions. He also believes that KJI • The original girl we were informed to the people,” stated Mr. Song. He is smart enough to know that North about was born in 1992 and just turned continued by saying that much of the aid Korea needs outside assistance and needs 16. goes to feed and take care of the military, to be opened. Due to his pride, however, • There are at least 7 girls being held but that most of the North Koreans did the rhetoric he uses to control the North against their will. (Possibly others.) not see that as a problem. Their Korean people will not allow it to look justification for this is that men must like he is being pushed or manipulated • All of the girls were lured into captivity serve in the military from ages 20-30 and by the international community. with promises of relocation to the therefore large portions of the population Therefore, according to Mr. Song’s United States, South Korea or a variety are in the military. Also, the military is opinion, if the US simply let North Korea of European countries. composed of sons, young men whose loose, technology such as radio, television families are glad that they get to eat. This and Internet would flood the country • Most of the girls are currently being relates directly with what the mother we with information and change would held at a hotel, in separate rooms recently spoke with in South Korea arrive and transform from the inside out. unable to contact each other. stated: that while she wishes her son • The captor has received international could leave North Korea, she’s glad that Personal Observations: Mr. Song demonstrated amazing insight recognition for rescuing trafficked girls he’s serving in the military because at and relocating them in other countries. least he gets a meal a day. Finally, most into the nature of a capitalist society. He NKs believe in the fundamental need for understood the value of being selfish for We have referred this matter to several of protection by the military from foreign his family and the idea of hard work. His our partners, including 318parterners.org, invaders. When asked about the US drive and determination, raw work ethic who are experts in this field and will markings and international markings on and ability to sacrifice almost anything continue to keep you posted as we are bags of grain that are delivered to North for his goals will ensure that he will made aware of developments. Korea, Mr. Song stated that originally the continue to be successful in the US. bags were flipped so that the US flag was During our dinner/interview with Mr. not visible, but today there is little care. Song, I was reminded of Ayn Rand’s Atlas He said that most people know not only Shrugged and the character of John Galt, that the aid deliveries come from abroad, whose dedication and belief in capitalism but also when the shipments come in. He reverberated around the world. said that one could find lines of vehicles Throughout the book, the question is at the ports or train depots awaiting the posed: Who is John Galt? Perhaps his arrival of the aid. Regarding the US flag, real name is Song. the KJI government simply states that NOTES they are responsible for forcing and * After some additional research we have successfully negotiating the grain on found that the feeling of discrimination may behalf of the North Korean people. be in part due to the change in culture from a Ensuring that the North Korean people communist state to a capitalist state. In The AIMS Newsletter Team: are continually thankful to their North Korea, unequal work still yields equal Sejin Seo, Director government. pay or provision, where as in capitalist [email protected] economies, unequal work yields unequal pay. Timothy Lee, Co-director Regarding US policy toward North Therefore, many North Koreans feel as if they Korea, Mr. Song had the following to say: [email protected] are being discriminated against if they show He believes that the US should take a “do Jonathan Kelley, Researcher/Editor up late or are sick and their pay is adjusted [email protected] what you want” policy with North Korea. accordingly. [email protected] / www.aimskorea.org 3