China's Underground Railroad - Human Trafficking in North Korea
VIEW EVENT DETAILSEscaping North Korea provides a rare and unique inside look into the hidden world of ordinary North Koreans. Mike Kim, who worked with refugees on the Chinese border for four years, recounts their experiences of enduring famine, sex-trafficking, and torture, as well as the inspirational stories of those who overcame tremendous adversity to escape the repressive regime of their homeland and make new lives.
One of the few Americans granted entry into the secretive "Hermit Kingdom," Kim came to know the isolated country and its people intimately. His North Korean friends entrusted their secrets to him as they revealed the government's brainwashing tactics and confessed their true thoughts about the repressive regime that so rigidly controls their lives. Civilians and soldiers alike spoke of what North Koreans think of Americans and war with America. Children remembered the suffering they endured through the famine. Women and girls recalled their horrific sex-trafficking experiences. Former political prisoners shared their memories of beatings, torture, and executions in the gulags.
With the permission of these courageous individuals, Kim now shares their stories and recounts his dramatic experiences leading North Koreans to asylum through the 6,000-mile modern-day underground railway through Asia. His unflinching narrative exposes the truth about North Korea, stripping away the last veils that still shroud this brutal dictatorship.
Mike Kim will discuss his book with Katherine Chon of Polaris Project.
Light refreshments will be served. Books will be for sale.
Mike Kim is an author, consultant, entrepreneur, NGO founder, and North Korea specialist based in Washington, DC. He is a Korean-American who, in 2003, moved to the China-North Korea border and founded Crossing Borders, a nonprofit dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance to North Korean refugees.
Katherine Chon is the President and co-founder of Polaris Project, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
Partial funding for this series has been provided by Lisa B. Barry.
One of the few Americans granted entry into the secretive "Hermit Kingdom," Kim came to know the isolated country and its people intimately. His North Korean friends entrusted their secrets to him as they revealed the government's brainwashing tactics and confessed their true thoughts about the repressive regime that so rigidly controls their lives. Civilians and soldiers alike spoke of what North Koreans think of Americans and war with America. Children remembered the suffering they endured through the famine. Women and girls recalled their horrific sex-trafficking experiences. Former political prisoners shared their memories of beatings, torture, and executions in the gulags.
With the permission of these courageous individuals, Kim now shares their stories and recounts his dramatic experiences leading North Koreans to asylum through the 6,000-mile modern-day underground railway through Asia. His unflinching narrative exposes the truth about North Korea, stripping away the last veils that still shroud this brutal dictatorship.
Mike Kim will discuss his book with Katherine Chon of Polaris Project.
Light refreshments will be served. Books will be for sale.
Mike Kim is an author, consultant, entrepreneur, NGO founder, and North Korea specialist based in Washington, DC. He is a Korean-American who, in 2003, moved to the China-North Korea border and founded Crossing Borders, a nonprofit dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance to North Korean refugees.
Katherine Chon is the President and co-founder of Polaris Project, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
Partial funding for this series has been provided by Lisa B. Barry.
Event Details
Thu 24 Mar 2011
Asia Society Washington The Cinnabar Room Whittemore House, 2nd Floor 1526 New Hampshire Ave, NW Washington, DC
Asia Society members: $10; non-Members: $15. RSVPs are required by 12:00 pm on March 23.