Under Kim Jong-un’s oppressive regime, North Korean children endure relentless indoctrination, psychological manipulation, and deprivation. Defectors Ji Hyun Park and Timothy Cho have shared first-hand accounts of how the regime uses propaganda, starvation, and fear to shape young lives and maintain control over its citizens.
Indoctrination Begins in Early Childhood
From an early age, children in North Korea are subjected to anti-Western propaganda designed to foster hatred and blind loyalty to the Kim family. Ji Hyun Park, who grew up in Chongjin City, recalls how even kindergarten activities revolved around demonizing foreign nations. “We hated Japan, America, and South Korea because they were described as ‘enemies’ or ‘American colonies,’” Ji shared.
Children’s games were designed to instill hate and glorify North Korea. Mock battles during sports days depicted North Korean “heroes” defeating American “enemies.” Fellow defector Timothy Cho recounted that even textbooks were filled with fabricated stories aimed at humiliating Western nations while portraying North Korea as a utopia.
The Kim Family: Worshipped as Gods
A central pillar of North Korea’s indoctrination is the deification of the Kim family. Timothy Cho explains, “The Kim family is treated as God. There’s no religious education because the state religion is Kim.” Children are taught to revere the Supreme Leader as a divine figure while other religions, particularly Christianity, are vilified as tools of Western oppression.
Every week, children and adults attend “criticism sessions,” where they are required to denounce each other’s perceived faults, fostering distrust and paranoia.
Starvation and the Fight for Survival
The devastating famine of 1994-1998 claimed an estimated 3.5 million lives, leaving countless families on the brink of starvation. Ji recalls her family surviving on barely 700 grams of rice every two weeks. “We were hungry all the time, but we didn’t complain. We were taught to always say yes to the government,” Ji said.
The famine was blamed on American sanctions, perpetuating anti-Western sentiments. However, Ji witnessed the heartbreaking realities firsthand. Her uncle, Ilsub, succumbed to starvation before her eyes, reduced to “just bones” in his final days. “We always saw dead bodies in the street,” she recounted.
Surveillance and Fear Dominate Daily Life
Life in North Korea is marked by constant surveillance. Secret police monitor every conversation, and even the slightest dissent can result in imprisonment or forced labor for entire families. Ji and her family lived in fear, careful not to say anything that could be construed as critical of the regime.
Timothy Cho, who fled North Korea twice, shared similar experiences. He now works to expose the realities of life under Kim’s regime and campaigns for change to free others from its grip.
Propaganda in Every Home
North Korea’s control extends to every household. Ji recalls that her family had no personal photographs on their walls—only portraits of the Supreme Leader. Each morning began with expressions of gratitude to Kim Il-sung, reinforcing the mandatory patriotism that underpins the regime’s power.
A Call to Action
The accounts of Ji Hyun Park and Timothy Cho highlight the harsh realities faced by children and families in North Korea. From indoctrination and starvation to surveillance and imprisonment, their stories expose the brutal methods Kim’s regime uses to maintain control. Their testimonies serve as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for international action to address human rights abuses in North Korea.
Source: the-sun.com
