North Korean Returnees
classetouriste.be
By John-Patrick Gerard Thackeray
Most Koreans want unification between the two Koreas to happen sooner rather than later. With reports that the North is facing a power struggle, between the Kim regime and others that want reform, it is no wonder many think the North could collapse within the next few years.
But some defectors from the repressive state are increasing the pressure, saying North Koreans are willing to become martyrs for unification.
North Korean defector Kang Chul-ho, who fled to China in 1995, is a founder of the first North Korean church congregations in South Korea and vice president of the North Korean Christian Association. He speaks at many forums and meetings aimed at “ending the Kim regime’s reign of terror in North Korea.” He says that with the number of North Korean defectors around the world, the regime is more frightened of them than the South Korean military.
“The saying goes that Kim Jung-un in a meeting stated that he was not afraid of the 600,000 military personnel in South Korea but he was concerned about the North Korean escapees and that they were a threat to the republic,” Kang said. He said the North was scared because the defectors would “eventually come back to liberate the homeland.”
As Christian worship is banned in North Korea, people face execution or time in labor camps if caught practicing their religion. This is why many flee to countries where they can practice and hopefully help others like Kang set up defector-run non-government organizations (NGO) that have many goals, including bringing down the dictatorship.
“For North Korean escapees, we have homes back in North Korea and are willing to sacrifice and are willing to become martyrs,” Kang said.
This shows how strongly some North Korean defectors feel about returning. There is a sense of passion and freedom that they want to pass on to the rest of the people of North Korea. Hopefully, what many of the escapees are doing will help build a strong, unified Korea.