North Korean defector makes BBC's 100 Women list

/ Yonhap

By Lee Ji-hye

North Korean defector and activist Park Yeon-mi has been selected as one of the BBC's “100 Women of 2014.”

The list is a project by the BBC that aims to "represent women better in its international news output."

Park has developed a reputation for delivering powerful speeches to raise awareness on the plight of the North Korean people.

"What a privilege and honor it is to be on this list!" Park wrote on her Facebook page.

In a recent interview with the BBC, Park was asked how she built up the courage to speak up on behalf of the North Korean people.

"I don't think it's a very special thing," she replied. "As a human being, I cannot forget them. How can I be free here from all the scenes and the things that I went through?"

She also described her trip of escaping from North Korea through China.

"I thought China would be better, but it was not," she said, describing the horrific events that she endured, including having to watch her mother be raped by a broker who helped the family flee.

"All the other girls are being sold for 200 dollars," she said. "As a human being, I just cannot forget them. As a human being, I just have to do this."

Park had recently delivered an emotional speech at this year's One Young World summit in Dublin, describing the horrors of living inside the world's most secretive nation.

Park continues to work as an activist for North Korean human rights, travelling the world to tell her story and raise awareness.

"I heard a few years ago, that all humans are equal, and that everyone has human rights," Park said. "And I just couldn't believe that humans were this generous."

"I believe in humanity, and that we all are going to help them out from that terror."