A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea

Masaji’s story paints a complex portrait of human behavior under duress, exploring the desperate measures people take when triggered by overwhelming pain and suffering. Miyoko’s married life in Japan offers a glimpse into the devastating impact of domestic violence, highlighting how it can distort one’s sense of self-preservation and force them into making desperate choices. Trapped in a brutal marriage, she is forced to either endure the abuse at the cost of her own physical and mental well-being, or flee and abandon her children. The severity of the abuse is starkly conveyed in her conversation with Masaji, where she makes it clear that staying would mean her death. This life-or-death situation compels Miyoko to take a desperate measure—abandoning her children to escape with her life. Even after escaping her abuser, the fear for her safety is palpable in her plea to keep her whereabouts a secret. The story suggests that her eventual agreement to relocate to North Korea likely stemmed from a well-founded fear for herself and her children rather than a genuine desire to return. The immense pressure she faced after being forcefully taken back to her home, coupled with the ongoing threat from her abuser, severely limited her options, ultimately forcing her into a desperate decision with far-reaching consequences.

Decades of discrimination and limited opportunities in Japan forced Zainichi Koreans like Do Sam-dal into a desperate struggle for survival. Relegated to society’s fringes, they faced constant humiliation and were denied basic rights. This harsh reality fueled a deep frustration, as well as a yearning for autonomy and self-preservation, at times manifesting in criminal and abusive behavior. While Masaji does not condone their actions, he understands they stemmed from a desperate need to carve out a space for themselves in a society that systematically excluded them. Their desperation also explains the conditions for so many to believe in North Korea’s promises. Lured by the regime’s propaganda, they clung to a desperate hope for a better life, unaware of the horrors that awaited them.

North Korea presented a new paradigm for desperation, a place where even the most basic necessities were elusive. Masaji, along with many other returnees, found himself grappling with appalling conditions upon their arrival. Daily life became a relentless exercise in survival. Public displays of loyalty were paramount, forcing workers to endure endless propaganda sessions even if their minds were elsewhere, desperately preoccupied with the day-to-day struggle for sustenance. Teachers, burdened by unrealistic quotas themselves, heaped the pressure onto students, exploiting their vulnerability to fulfill their own obligations. Miyoko, rendered unemployable due to her repatriation status, was forced to resort to foraging for wild plants to contribute to the family’s food ration. And as conditions worsened, acts previously reprehensible, like stealing and selling their own blood, became a grim necessity in the face of starvation. Masaji’s transformation from a rule-abiding citizen to someone willing to embrace illegal means for survival marks a significant shift in his journey, allowing him to better understand his father’s choices. The regime’s stranglehold on basic necessities leaves him with no choice but to prioritize his family’s survival, even if it means sacrificing his own well-being, thus making his ultimate act of desperation— escaping North Korea—his only viable option.