There are thousands of cases of those who have escaped, or have attempted to escape North Korea. This is a very condensed account of just one of them.
In North Korea, Deborah grew up among a regime that is the most restricted in the world. If anyone criticized them, it would mean a torturous labor camp or immediate death. Food was very scarce, and many freedoms, including travel is outlawed. Any belief in God was outlawed and of course having a Bible meant death. Only the “great leader” could be worshipped.
Deborah was chosen for the “pleasure squad” as a teenager--a group of girls nurtured for the pleasure of their leader. After 6 months nurturing, getting ready for the “great leader”, she was released and sent back home with no explanation. At the time she was upset about this.
After secretly learning about how good life really was outside of North Korea, she decided to attempt the escape. Successfully reaching China was only the beginning of the escape. The Chinese, as well as other countries, are paid by North Korea to turn in escapees. While there, and still in hiding, she was very lucky to learn what a computer was and learned about the internet. She came across a South Korean pastor that was going to smuggle North Koreans out of China to America. Miraculously, she found them the very hour they were leaving, even though most had been there much longer.
Then was the long and dangerous over-land trip to Thailand. She noticed the others reading the Bible and praying. She quicky criticized them, telling them not to believe in fairy tales. But she recognized that many times they came very close to capture when the pastor and the others could only turn to prayer. Again, they were faced with condemnation from her. But as she saw their determination to pray every morning, her heart began to be softened.
Their very last river crossing to freedom, from Laos (another country very willing to turn them in) to Thailand, turned out to be extremely dangerous. They were forced to cross in broad daylight. Even at night many would be shot in their crossing attempt. Deborah had no choice but to cross with them. In the daylight, with a very loud motor, Deborah finally just looked heavenward. She said, God, if there is a God, please help us. We have come a long way and just want to be free. I don’t know how you can, but please help us. As she was looking up, she felt a drop on her face, then another and another. Then out of nowhere it began to absolutely downpour. To the point that they could barely tell where they were going, and the sound of the rain overtook the sound of the motor.
She could not deny their escape was miraculous. She eventually made it to the United States, studied the Bible and became Christian. She is now married with 3 children.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RynC5IPnkRY&t=1554s
@deborahchoifromnorthkorea
