North Korean youth's 22-day struggle toward 'hell' [Joo Sung-ha's Neighbor from the North]

In the twilight of May 20, 2019, 24-year-old Kim Kang-woo plunged into the icy Tumen River. His destination: China, and from there, South Korea. Strapped to his back was a South Korean passport, and secured at his waist, a waterproofed iPhone. The river, about 50 meters wide, was crossed in roughly ten minutes. Reaching the opposite bank, he encountered a steep embankment, over 7 meters high. He scaled it using accumulated trash, unaware of the dense barbed wire fencing awaiting him at the top. This fence, he noted, had not been there three years prior.

Scratched and torn, he attempted to climb over the wire. As he prepared to jump down, the fence sprang back like a coiled spring, sending him tumbling down the embankment. Wincing in pain, he heard a voice from above, "Who's there? Come up here." A border guard had appeared, gun aimed at him. He was ordered to climb up, where a soldier, seemingly his age, quickly assessed his drenched state.

“

Who's there? Come up here.