This month (note: May, 2005), during a 15-day trip to Yanji (note: N.E. Chinese city across N. Korea), Park Sang-hyuk(alias) took the pictures of an underground hideout where a N. Korean refugee, Mr. Paik, and his family live. It was located at a mountain in Helong Perfecture, Jilin Province. The pictures were posted on the home page of Free North Korea Broadcast(www.freenk.net) on May 28th(, 2005.)
In this place, Mr. Paik, his wife, and their three daughters in late 20's had lived for 7 years(, according to his report.)
Looking at these pictures, you can see that the entrance to the hideout is well obscured by leaves, to avoid detection from the outside, and due to moisture buildup, mushrooms grow on the wooden walls inside, which are decaying badly.
Inside, there were blankets wrapped with plastic sheets to keep out moisture, a hearth to make fire, and small wooden chest box.
According to Kim Min-soo, a reporter from <Free North Korea Broadcast>, "N. Korean refugees can't find a place to stay. They are eking out a living, getting paid little or nothing for a back-breaking work at a logging camp or a cattle farm. Recently, 40 of them per day were shipped back to N. Korea through Tumen Border Detention Center (note: the place where N. refugees who got caught in China are held.)"
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The entrance to the underground hideout 1 meter by 1 meter (1 meter = 3.3 feet.) <source: Free North Korea Broadcast> |
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