WHY I FLED FROM COMMUNIST NORTH KOREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP69B00369R000100020003-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 30, 2003
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: May 29, 1967
• Content Type: MAGAZINE

U. S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
Approved For Release 2004/014 Sl#-W969B00369R000100020003-0
INTERVIEW
WITH
Lee Su-kun,
Korean Newsman
1. On floor of this U. N. car, Mr. Lee races for
freedom after armistice meeting at Panmunjom.
"WF1Y I FLED FROM
COMMUNIST NORTH KOREA"
p, ,
What are the Reds up to in North Korea? A
rare close-up of that country emerges in this ex-
clusive interview with Lee Su-kun, a North Korean
newspaperman who recently made a dramatic
escape. He was interviewed by K. M. Chrysler of
the staff of "U. S. News & World Report."
Heath they are unAVVY0 4ii0ttt a$l?t2O
' 11.6j
A Superficially, the North Koreans in their daily ljs' gyp:
pear to be supporting the regime and the party. But "itlti
rn
moo i s wage or most people.
. Q What is the mood of people up there?
East Coast costs 50 or 60 won [$19.46 or $23.35]-a' c5;-lacsle
tl ' f
one-day, 200-mile trip from Pyongyang to Chongjin nn tlic
during your travels, and your pay is stopped. Besides, you
At SEOUL
Q Mr. Lee, what is life really like in North Korea?
A I have traveled throughout Eastern Europe, and I feel
there is less freedom in North Korea than in any other coun-
try in the Communist bloc. It is just like Russia when it was
controlled by Stalin.
As far as North Korean leaders are concerned, the Eastern
European countries are no longer following Marxist doctrine.
They are too enlightened, too liberal in their thinking and
living. If the people of East Europe want to go into a church
or see a Western movie or dance, they can. Not so in North
Korea, where leaders are afraid of granting freedom of any
kind.
There is no such thing as personal freedom or liberty. Ev-
erything is strictly controlled. For example, jobs are all al-
located by the Government. You cannot change jobs without
official approval. It is not even wise to marry without the
permission of the Communist Party. You can do so if you
dare, but you are penalized and condemned as a "freedom
lover."
Another example: In theory, you can travel freely within
North Korea, but in actual fact you cannot. Why not? Unless .
your trip is officially sanctioned, you are not.given any rations.
things the way they are. But most of the remainder of North
Korea's 14 million people have little cause to applaud.
For example, the relatives of the 5 million refugees who
fled from North to South after World War II. do not like the
artificial division of Korea created by the Communists. Now
that all business is run by the Government, there is no place
for private businessmen. Intellectuals and the well-educated
are stifled, as are other people in a position to know how
things are elsewhere in the world, such as newspapermen.
Probably the most disillusioned North Koreans of all are
those who voluntarily repatriated themselves from Japan,
expecting beauty and freedom.. They found something quite
different.
Q Why aren't there more defections?
A Defecting is easier said than done, because of two large
obstacles: Escape is particularly difficult from a society which
builds a high, strong wall between its citizens and the rest
of the world. And those few in a position to get away are
seldom able to free their families too, so they rarely attempt
escape.
Q How is the standard of living in North Korea?
A Except for the minority of top officials who live reason-
ably well, the people are not very well off. Most people do
not get enough to eat most of the time. Food is cheap, but
scarce. There is a chronic shortage of rice, our staple food,
and all food is strictly rationed.
A productive worker is allowed only 700 grams [about Ui
pounds] a day. This might be acceptable to someone who
sits at a desk, but it is insufficient for a man doing hard man-
ual work, and half the population lives on farms. Nonproduc-
tive workers such as housewives and children are limited to,
400 grams [not quite one pound] per day. And 30 to 50
per cent of everybody's daily ration is not rice but beans,
corn or some other grain.
Clothing is not rationed, but the gap between wages and
prices efficiently cuts down on purchases. For instance, this
suit I am wearing would cost 300 won [$116.73] in North.
Korea, almost two months of my wages there. And I was
considered well paid. A college graduate starting on a news-
,paper gets only 45 won [$17.51] it month. A skilled worker
c9tit"~w 'Ground '60 won [$23.35] monthly, and it is hardly
s ziougl; tt1 live on.
Q N"+'hat about housing?
A As fir as 1 know, ever country in the Communist
IA~I
RM, sl~l~-,44Pt enough and what
lra I t ss !'oF poor .quality.. North Korea is no exception
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 Release 2904/O IA-RQPA9 369
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2. North Korean guards, left, try to 3. Guards chase car, by now out of sight. 4. Guards open fire, to no avail. Mr.
get Mr. Lee. U.S. MP blocks them. Car crashed through an illegal Red barrier. Lee's escape took place on March 22.
year on a large scale after North Korea declared its Ai,tAc
pendence from China. Even more aid is expected in the fu A I imagine Kim II Sung [North Korea's Prime Minister]
tore. is chiefly pleased with his development of heavy industry,
0 What's behind this big military build-up? creation of a strong military force, and successful brainwash-
A North Korea's main goal, politically and economically, ing of North Korea's youth.
is communization of South Korea. In order to do this, they But he has failed miserably in the most important thing:
feel they must beef up their military forces in preparation He has been unable to improve living standards, or permit
for an invasion when the time is ripe. even a small ration of personal liberty. ?
Annrnvnrt Car Dnln~cn 9nnAtni mrz ? f`1A-DflD1 QC nn'1r,QDnnninnA9AAA2_A
tart' aid. Russian economic and military aid was resumed last RnSSnans or g
Q What have the Communists really accomplished?
ic
they have Russian-ma e su' b i Hanoi.
years ago I heard that one of these North Korean $A M s; ] 0 What do the North Koreans think about the split be-
knocked down an American U-2, spy plane. ttveeri lIu;?e:K