NKorean Prison Camp Survivor: Starving Women Cooked & Ate Their Own Children
- Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:15pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Kim Hye Sook suffered unbearable pain and emotional suffering when she was detained for 28 years in a secretive North Korean concentration camp. Brutal executions, starvation — even mothers killing and eating their children to ensure their own survival — were regular occurrences.
Kim — who miraculously escaped from the Bukchang prison camp back in 2003 – granted CBN News with the first American television news interview to discuss these horrendous conditions. She now lives in South Korea, with the details of her escape remaining classified for security reasons. This summer, she released a memoir entitled, “A Concentration Camp Retold in Tears.”
When she was 13-year-old, her tragic tale began. The year was 1975 and in the blink of an eye the young girl was captured alongside her entire family. After years of suffering, she didn’t taste freedom until she was 41-years-old. Kim explains:
“My entire family went to prison. Some were taken to the mountains; others were put in different labor camps all because of my grandfather’s one mistake: he escaped to South Korea during the Korean War.”
Two women are watched by a North Korean guard (Photo Credit: AP)
Today, Kim wears dark glasses to ensure that her identity remains concealed. While she lost seven family members in the re-education camp, she currently has two sisters and a brother who are still imprisoned. She described a typical day at the camp:
“I attended indoctrination classes in the morning. In the afternoon the children were sent to push trolleys in the coal mines, often without any safety gear.
People were dying in the mines. There were numerous mine collapses, so many injuries, people who lost their legs, many who were buried alive. It was horrible.
I was treated like a slave and worse. I hardly slept. It was inhuman. But I never complained. I just followed all the rules. I had to find a way to survive.”
Kim claims that the conditions were so terrible that she thought about committing suicide “hundreds of thousands of times” during her 28-year detention. But because there was always someone watching her, this simply wasn’t an option:
“Each prisoner is assigned to watch four or five other prisoners. So if anything happens, the other prisoners would alert the guards because they didn’t want to get into trouble themselves.”
While her descriptions of executions are absolutely horrendous, nothing is more disturbing than her memories about those individuals who she saw kill their children in an effort to stave off hunger. In one instance, she recalls a mother boiling her 9-year-old daughter. In another fit of desperation, a woman killed her 16-year-old son, chopped him up and took him to a butcher to obtain some corn in exchange.
Kim admits that these details are difficult to share, but she bravely proclaims, “I want the world to see these images and to hear my testimony.” In describing the conditions in the isolated and volatile nation, she says, “I am living proof that there are no human rights in North Korea.” In September, she was invited to Washington, D.C., where she testified before a congressional panel about the conditions she faced.
Watch her story, below:
(H/T: CBN News)
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Comments (188)
banjarmon
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:49pmI will fight tooth and nail to prevent this from happening in the USA!
Report Post »Uncurable wound
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:14pmright beside you brother!
Report Post »ThomasUSA
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:34pmAmen
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:42pmI second that!!
Report Post »eaglenva
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:28pmCopy that
III
Report Post »TexasHunter
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:56pmPry the steel from my cold dead hands. Republic will rise when push comes to shove.
Report Post »arvadadan
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:17pmSemper Fi
Report Post »mrprof
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:18pmWaiting with you
Report Post »coffeenomics
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:23pmAmen!!
Report Post »urrybr
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:38pmIn rememberance of our God, our Nation and our Families. I’m with you guys 120%!!
Report Post »TyrannyNoMore
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:49pmAmen brother ! You come for my family or neighbors you are getting filled with lead. Makes you wonder what all those new FEMA camps are for huh?? You know, the ones with barbed wire, set up to keep people in.
Report Post »tkd_hurricane
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 11:08amSometimes, I get tired of seeing people write comments like these. Not because I disagree, but because we can all see it happening right before our eyes. It’s darn near here as we speak and each day that goes by we get closer and closer to this reality. To say we will be like N Korea is a stretch.. But it could get close.. When is it time that we stop talking and start acting.. Truly banding together and saving this republic, constitutionally, or otherwise?
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:46pmJust out of curiosity…do you think that most people who post here DONT already know that NKorea has and evil government? So what about this story is shocking to you? They did what the Donner Party did survive. All I did was to bring humor to something thats taboo. grow up.
Report Post »izntthatspecial
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:44pmNorth Korea is a brutal regime. See Kimjongilia – It’s horrific how these people are treated.
Report Post »blue_sky
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:53pmI would rather see my tax dollars go to starving North Korean children
THAN
to Taliban warlords or muslim adult “refugees”
But our central planners know better how and where to spend our money….
Report Post »Locked
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:18pm“I would rather see my tax dollars go to starving North Korean children
THAN
to Taliban warlords or muslim adult “refugees””
Helping the poor in the DPRK is impossible though, as outside groups are not allowed in, and any donations would go the government. So that’s not really an option.
Report Post »blue_sky
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:42pm@Locked – Naivete or Simpleton raised on Coca-Cola adverts?
Report Post »Why not to send baby formula with third party neutral distributors, not CIA agents from US funded “non-profit organizations”?
blue_sky
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:44pmI am not a fan of communists, but Americans should reject this CIA planed “news”.
“Miraculously escaped” would tell anything for Green Card.
Let’s check our own archives 15 years ago during severe hunger in N. Korea.
US and UN pressured International Red Cross not to send any food. Did the parents ate their children? Nope – elderly grandparents refused to eat and stayed in bed just to save food for their the young.
Cheap propaganda is nauseating, worse than USSR. Are they prepare us for war with Iran or North Korea just before the election?
Report Post »Treaty
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:33pmThese kinds of stories have been coming out of North Korea for years. There isn’t always some hidden agenda behind stories like this. Believe it or not there are some really horrible dictators on this earth.
Report Post »Hiswill
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:12pmBlue_Sky -Yeah ,and no one believed the Jews were being gassed and burned in ovens either. That’s how they got away with it for so long. Millions died because we chose to not believe there is evil in this world. If you are an American you should be kissing the ground you walk on. You never had it so good.
Report Post »Raisingmy3boysright
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:23pmUnfortunately, when we send food aid and money to these country’s that claim famine etc. all we are doing is giving the regime free goods to then turn around and sell. Any UN food missions always end up in the wrong hands instead of the people who are suffering. Somalia and Ethiopia are perfect examples of this. I think EVERYONE needs to question Obama as to WHY we are in Uganda and other African Nations right now. I believe we are aiding in getting rid of a Christian group that is trying to help Christians in the region. We are on the wrong side of things there.
Report Post »blue_sky
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:27pm@Hiswill, check your school books again.
Report Post »1) When Franklin D. Roosevelt was told about Auschwitz and that US bombers could bomb the camp to prevent bringing new Jews there, he simply refused to do anything.
2) Moreover, yielding to the popular trend in US at the time, Franklin D. Roosevelt even pressured Canada not to accept Jews as refugees.
Well, after the war history books were re-written, like they were in USSR and China. Obama even claimed his uncle liberated the Auschwitz. Sad how naive we can be.
capitalismrocks
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:43pmObviously another liberal instigator, with no understanding or feeling for a person’s invidivual rights, freedoms, emotions, and pain….
Liberal only view people as nameless cogs to be put into their government machines to churn out production to serve the State and if they can’t provide enough to support their worth, then they are disposed of, welcome to the wonderful world of liberals — thats what they think Democracy looks like.
Report Post »9.12momLynnette
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:41pmWhat’s wrong with you?
Report Post »capitalismrocks
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:40pmYou I have had a little too much of this, I want everyone to go over to here:
http://www.dangerousminds.com
and the domain speaks for itself – these truly are dangerous minds. I wouldn’t really attempt to engage in debates with these people – they all think they are correct which obviously they are not.
I would recommend going on and posting links to video’s of revolutions, videos of camps like this, videos of failed socialism uprisings, videos showing that those in Egypt are now in far worse a situation then before their arab spring nonsense – just post video links with simple captions like “This was what Democracy REALLY looks like.”
Don’t engage them in debate, just continue posting links in responses to message you may see, you may, just on an outside chance – reach some of these “minds” and get them to actually think and not be mindless follower zombies… try to help them by showing them the truth, they love Che… show them videos and photo’s of their beloved “hero” – show them photo’s of Communist China, Soviet Russia, North Korea, Argentina, Columbia, and other countries that had their “revolutions” and took down the systems and now look what they have – most importantly – show videos of what happened to the original protestors after the revolution, all dead, cast aside, forgotten… they were pawns, used and discarded afterwards, show these “minds” the truth… maybe they won’t be so dangerous when they start to wake up.
Report Post »Wayner
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:55pmWhy not put videos of these astrosocties on the billboards of Time Square and let the idiot sheep protesters get a look at how wonderful Marxism is?
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:39pmWhat ******* this woman makes those OWS people look like with her real story of struggle.
Report Post »Who would Jesus bomb?
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:55pmYeah, we’re so opressed here in the USA. I’d say a person would fare much better in North Korea, a great place to raise a family. Hey black panthers, you don’t need to kill whitey to live in a fair and balanced society, just move to North Korea. I‘m sure you’ll be welcomed with open arms. Open firearms, that is…
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:37pmHey protesters:
Here’s your next chant…
This is what marxism looks like.
barrack….hussein..obama…
uh huh…uh huh..uh huh.
This is what marxism looks like.
Uh huh..uh huh..uh huh.
This is what having to eat your children tastes like.
barrack…hussein…obama…
mm-mm…mm-mm…mm-mm.
(and they don’t taste like chicken)
That’s where this is all headed, idiots.
Report Post »That’s where it will end up.
AxelPhantom
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:37pmI am reading “From the Gulaf to the Killing Fields” The introduction segment of the book is very interesting. It talks about how (and why) while the Nazi extermination camps were exposed and highlighted, the gulags of the Soviet Bloc, North Korea, China and Cuba remain mostly ignored. The testimonials of those who experienced these places are rivoting, how they ended up there is even more telling as to the evil of a utopian ideal society.
Report Post »elosogrande
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:36pmYet Clinton, with help from Jimma Carter an Madeline Albright, gave North Korea $8 billion in fuel oil and two GE nuke plants that they’re using to make weapons grade Plutonium.
Democrat dolts have always sold us out to the garbage of the world.
Report Post »EZDOZIT
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:37pmLiberalism will get you killed!
Report Post »Doc Farmer
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:34pmOh, my God…
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:33pmA communist utopia . This is what the OWS protesters are demanding and they don’t even know it.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:10pmYes .. useful idiots . . but those who control them do know.
TEA!
Report Post »C Alfonso
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:33pmI would like to think that if you’re on this site you would have more compassion and more maturity than to post a comment like that, regardless of your intention.
Report Post »garyM
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:32pmThose nuts on Wall Street don’t have a clue about what real hunger and famine is! They don’t have clue about that every good and perfect gift gift comes from above. That’s why people who do know where everything comes fomr, gives thanks to the Lord before they eat their food! The wall Street nuts don’t have a clue that owning a iphone or ipad puts them in the Fatcat status on a worldwide economic view!
Report Post »libertytreecaretaker
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:31pmObama is worried about Libiya and Uganda?
Report Post »We have a man child president peeing in the wind! Clueless!
J.C. McGlynn
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:30pm“This is what real DEMOCRACY looks like” according to Trumka, the demonacrats in Washington, the Occupy whatevers and liberal progressives.
Report Post »tweetybird
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:29pm@mrsmileyface……your comment is disgusting.
Report Post »libertytreecaretaker
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:28pmThats just wrong LOL!
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:26pmThere is sadness all over the world and it is no way we can help all the people. That is why we all need to turn to God or we will continue to suffer heartbreak and death without redemption. The enemy has already been conquered and until we all realize that there will be no peace. Praise the Lord Jesus.
Report Post »Gcopp6
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:25pmWe should either pull out of south Korea or pull back Up the trucks to the d.m.z and force china to fix their mess. One or the other. Their will never be a north Korean uprising and they Clinton gave them
Report Post »Nukes. We need to get them back.
ClassicalLiberal
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:33pmThis a brutal story. The results of central planning:socialism/communism.
Its especially horrible how, under communism, everyone turns on each other, even fellow prisoners for fear that they will get in trouble. Everyone is against everyone and those nails that stick out only get hammered back down. Collectivism is so oppressive. Very sad story.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:11am@Gcopp6
Report Post »Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:25pm
We should either pull out of south Korea or pull back Up the trucks to the d.m.z and force china to fix their mess. One or the other. Their will never be a north Korean uprising and they Clinton gave them
Nukes. We need to get them back
***
And HOW do you intend to get china to fix their mess when our entire government for 3 yrs. has been personally pleading and begging them to KEEP ON buying our bonds so we don‘t have to face the fact we’re BANKRUPT???? Let’s face it, WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE {CHINA OWNS THE WEAPONS WE FIGHT WITH. } He who pays the piper CALLS THE TUNE!!!!
MangoT21
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:25pmAre we in denial now about these the same way people were in denial about german camps? Should something be done?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:23pmHollywood supplies a never ending stream of movies about the holocaust so we will “never forget”. How many will be made about this, considering they share a common ideology?
Report Post »HKS
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:23pmI think that I have heard that store before from somewhere, Maybe Mao Zedong comes to mind.
Report Post »GMAN455
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:21pmThe Bamsters Hero’s North Korea
Report Post »