Famine, abuse, human trafficking, imprisonment: Lucia Jang’s life in North Korea under the rule of Kim Il-Sung and then Kim Jong-Ill was horrifying. Her first son was sold for pocket change and two bars of soap. I cannot find words to properly encapsulate the magnitude of Lucia’s long and painful journey; what she has lived through reflects the cruelest side of humanity.

Beaten down physically and mentally, it’s hard to imagine how Lucia mustered the strength and courage to escape the tyranny, but she did. With her two-month-old baby strapped to her back, she crossed the gun-guarded Tumen river during the night, fleeing to the banks of China for safety.

She now lives in Canada with her two sons. This Sunday, she’ll be honoured at the 3rd annual Human Rights Film Festival hosted by Jayu. She’s a hero who has survived unimaginable torment; her story is important for the world to hear.

SDTC: Can you describe a typical day in your life when you lived in North Korea? 

LJ: Before the food crises came, I would go to work, eating rationed food from the government, and without to much to worry about. I would sometimes read novels, romance novels about human relationships. I would sometimes go to the movies, often films about how to be a loyal citizen to the regime; how to be a good person. We also had to learn the instructive materials from the Party about how to be better server to our society and our leader.

At what point did you realize that you had to flee? 

I realized I had to leave North Korea when I was repatriated to North Korea from China. I was imprisoned, treated like a criminal. Up to that point, even though I had visited China to find food and money, I never thought of leaving the country altogether — it was my home country, after all, and my family was still there. But after my first experience with imprisonment in North Korea, I realized that I could not stay there any more. I was treated like I was not even human, but I had only left because there was nothing to eat.

What was the toughest part of your journey?

My last escape from North Korea, with my baby on my back. He was only 50 days old at the time, and I did not know whether we would make it or not. I was scared because it was not just me but also my baby, whom I wanted desperately to keep alive.

When crossing the river, fighting for your life, was there anything that you repeated to yourself, in your head, to help you get through it?

I only had one thought in my mind — one step at a time. I could not even think as far as ‘if I make it through to the other side, we’ll be alive’ or ‘just as long as we are done crossing this river, good things will come to us’. I just wanted to be safe every step I took. Each step felt like life or death for me and my son.

What are you most thankful for today?

I am most thankful today for the health of my children, and that they have been able to find their home in Canada. My older child, who has been through so much even from pregnancy, has grown to be so strong and happy despite everything. I am most thankful for that.

How did becoming a mother changed you?

Before I became a mother, I did not care as much whether I lived or died. After I became a mother, I started to feel the weight of the responsibility towards life. To stay alive and to make sure my children are looked after, well, and happy. It is what propels me forward through life every day.

If you can share one message about life in North Korea, what is it?

I want people to know that even in such dire conditions, people in North Korea still live with hope for a good day — one day.

What can we do to help?

Do not forget us — even with the despicable conditions that they find themselves in, the people in North Korea still value and appreciate life, and fight hard to survive. With the world giving attention to the experience of North Koreans and reaching out to us, especially the human rights issues, I think North Korean people will be able to find the strength to keep on fighting.

Not so many people leave North Korea purely for political reasons — the main reason is hunger. Often women and children are sold against their will in their journey from North Korea to China to find food. North Koreans are hunted down by the Chinese government and sent back to North Korea, where they are treated as criminals and punished in such inhumane ways, as traitors to the country. Safe passage to another country is not allowed within China. If the outside world could help alleviate this problem, that would help enormously. Food aid can help when it can be made sure that it is securely distributed to the people, but at the same time, efforts to learn about the human rights issues facing North Koreans and to reach out would help. I appreciate every person who reads this interview, and any stories of survival from North Koreans like myself.

Lucia Jang will be in attendance for a Q&A following the Human Rights Film Fest closing night film, In Between. The screening will take place TIFF Bell Lightbox this Sunday, 8:15pm. 

You can also watch the documentary, Lucia Jang’s Story: In her own words, by CBC’s Fifth Estate, or purchase a copy of Stars Between the Sun and Moon: the first memoir about the North Korean regime from a female perspective.