North Korean Defector On Surviving Beatings, Famine and Public Executions | Minutes With

In this episode of Minutes With, we spoke to the remarkable Timothy Cho, a North Korean defector, about his two-time escape from the country run by dictator Kim Jong Un. Timothy explains what it is like to grow up in a 'prison country', where wearing jeans or watching TV could have you killed in a gruesome public execution. Timothy's parents abandon him as a child, leaving him living on the streets and battling starvation during the famine. Incredibly, he manages to escape but is captured by the Chinese Army and brutally tortured for his defection. His incredible journey to freedom ends with the actions of a 13-year-old student who saved his life and granted him the chance to live in democracy.

00:00 - 00:36 - Intro
00:36 - 02:00 - I Miss North Korea
02:00 - 03:30 - Life In A 'Prison Country'
03:30 - 05:24 - I Was Brainwashed
05:24 - 06:47 - Public Executions
06:51 - 09:07 - Abandoned
09:07 - 10:57 - Starvation On The Streets
10:57 - 12:40 - Why I Escaped
12:40 - 15:44 - Fleeing To China
15:44 - 18:00 - Shot At By The Army
18:00 - 21:15 - Tortured For Information
21:15 - 25:00 - Second Escape
25:00 - 29:14 - Captured; I Thought It Was The End
29:14 - 31:22 - Prison Visitor
31:22 - 34:21 - A New Life

#LADbible

[LADbible]

Thank you to Timothy Cho for taking part in this episode. Timothy is Co-Secretariat to the UK All Party Parliamentary Group in North Korea (APPG NK) and you can follow him on Instagram @Timothycho2022.

[elriane]

Imagine coming back from school at 9yo and finding out that your parents left you... this is horrifying

[johny]

Bro had me choking up. Ladbible, you guys keep doing this, this is so important to document.

[holly]

I know this man and have had the absolute honour of hearing him speak in person about his experiences, the conversation I had with him is one I will never forget. An incredible person, truly!

[krystalayala]

That 13 year old girl saved his life. Her parents should be so proud of her.

[bsnufkin]

What do you say to a person who experienced so much pain and trauma? I have no words.

Timothy, I wish you to never cry again. May the rest of your life bring you only positivity.

[markeli]

I love his smile, it’s so sincere. But I see that he’s smiling through so much pain

[maautrap]

Him seeing what empathy is for the first time from people who know nothing about him. From criminals to regular citizens is so sad yet amazing. Despite our differences we often stride to help each other. It’s human nature.

[Chse]

The fact he’s in tears because he’s so grateful for the people who helped him is just astonishing

[krishnavasu]

Jeez, the deepest 34 minutes I have ever experienced on YouTube. So heartbreaking, i couldn't help but cry with him. It's horrible how even in the 21st century, things like this exist, especially on a nationwide scale

[LittleChaoticMonsta]

The other prisoners in the Chinese prison taking care of him made me tear up. They recognized his life didn't compare to any hard life they might have known. A lot of humanity in this story all around

[unsocial_butterfly]

“And I survived because of the power of love”.

Thank you for sharing your story.

[caitlinnance]

I hope that 13 year old is living a happy and healthy life right now full of all the good things life has to offer as well as the journalist who got all the groups fired up. I want to hug him so hard and tell him how amazing he is. Despite all he's gone through, he seems so gentle and kind ❤

[albasanchez]

The fact that he found more humanity and kindness in gangsters in prison than in his own country, is amazing. They taught him to pray. “You say Amen after your wishes.” Brought me to tears. God bless that little girl but also those men in prison who showed compassion to a young lost boy when he needed it most.

[lalalababe]

my grandmother escaped when she was 19 and had to leave her mother. All of her siblings have now passed and she is around 90 years old . she says she still misses NK and it breaks my heart knowing how ruined it is is but at the same time its the only place she really calls home. cant believe that little girl saved their lives like that

[nozomashii]

Crying.. but it was a beautiful story told by a man with a lovely smile. His pain is horrendous, and yet he can still smile. May his life be filled with joy and laughter.

[chanalexa]

Protect the little girl from the international school at ALL cost!!!
I’m indeed in tears a 14 yo girl is so mature to know who to ask help for!!

[steveharrison]

The brave kid became a brave man. Strong guy - I’m glad he’s free and safe here.

[pgselww]

안녕하세요 티모시 조님. 댓글을 보실 지 모르겠지만 너무 감명 깊어서 몇 자 적어봅니다..

저는 영어공부 때문에 LAD bible 채널을 구독 중이 였는데, 이렇게 우연히 티모시 조님의 이야기를 듣게 됐네요.. 
이야기를 나눠 주셔서 감사하다는 말과 함께 영상을 보는 내내 대한민국 국민으로서 정말 가슴이 아팠습니다.

한국인으로서 북한 인권에 항상 관심을 가지고 기도하는 제가 되도록 노력하겠습니다. 
이야기를 나누는 동안 힘드셨을텐데 공유해 주셔서 감사하고 한국에 있는 저에게 까지 전할 수 있게 해준 LADbible 채널에도 감사합니다.

언젠가 한반도에도 독일처럼 기적적으로 통일을 하는 날이 오겠죠? 꼭 그랬으면 좋겠네요.


티모시 조님 영국에서 행복한 일만 가득하시길 바래요!

[fnshrvb]

My man is explaining shit we can never comprehend about how the closest thing you can call home literally, abandoned him and he’s here sharing us his story with a smile on his face. Absolute legend 😢