North Korean Pilot's Daring Defection

As North Korean fighter-pilot No Kum-Sok gazed down at the ruins of Pyongyang at 19,000 feet, he weighed up the pros and cons of defecting for one last time.
A decorated veteran of the Korean War, if he stayed he would live the rest of his life in comfort. If he left and plunged into the unknown, there was high chance he would perish in the process.
Then suddenly, he envisioned a lifetime of mind-numbing ideological meetings, lies, betrayal and denunciation. His mind was made up - he simply had to escape.

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Credit:
Show Created by Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
Script: Jake Leigh-Howarth
Narrator: Bryan 'Lazlo' Beauregard

[Ohiotrucker]

I've seen his plane many times at the museum and i once got a chance to talk to him as a child. He was a humble man.

[comhaltacht]

Imagine the elation he must’ve felt finally escaping Korea, and reaching your dream country, and then that country gives you $100k

[inductivegrunt]

This man risked it all, and it all paid off. Bless this man and his incredible luck to pull off the stunt of the century.

[LyonPercival]

“The US offered to return the jet to North Korea - this offer was ignored.”
😂😂😂

[ledfloyd]

The man may not have been born an American citizen, but he's more American than many in my country.

[MABestGirl]

It's somewhat heartwarming to see a war hero, even if he was on the other side, live.

He's the kind of person who leads by example. Eventually, others will follow suit.

[danielnavarro]

I wonder if he ever got the chance to have a girlfriend, a dog, and a car. And drive alongside the California coastline. Godspeed to him. May he rest in peace.

[tommypaget]

He was my Academic Advisor at my university, in Aircraft Engineering Technology, in 1987. As an 18 year old student, I didn’t know who he was; often, while in his office, I’d glance past him, to see a very small, blurred black and white picture of what appears to be a young Chinese fighter pilot standing next to a MIG-15? I never asked him about it, until, one day, my classmate told me, that he was a North Korean pilot who had defected to the US, in his MIG-15……I simply laughed, and told my friend that he watched too much James Bond movies. Until about 25 year after I graduated, after watching YouTube, I finally realized who he was. I believed he passed away in 2022.
RIP Dr. Rowe.

[Papashaft]

It’s weird how the Russians treated the North Koreans poorly yet were their biggest economic support as well as security with China

[TheIdiotTries]

Dude manifested all of this. How incredible, chosen to be a pilot, nobody noticed him, the radars were down, he got 100k (1.1mil today) on touch down. Just insane.

[PsychEval]

I met this man in person multiple times. His son was my father's best friend. Awesome people.

[Soundwave]

This is one of the best stories I’ve ever heard of escaping communism! He was real clever, he knew that the best way to avoid getting caught by the communists, is to act like an ideal one! He really was blessed and lucky on the day of his escape, he made a clean getaway and landed in a boatload of money to start his new life in America!

[JarodFarrant]

1:10s he’s dads integrity saved his life.

[sonofkarma]

I’m surprised Ive never Learned of this Man sooner, and he died a Year ago, and the Year I Graduated High School, his story is truly Inspirational 😯

[profbanzai]

He was my drafting professor at Embry Riddle. He never discussed any of this in class, but his book was in the school book store.

[corymorimacori]

MacArthur: Nuke em!
Truman: No!
MacArthur: NUKE EM!
Truman: NO!
MacArthur: AH COME ON!
Truman: You’re fired!

[TTV_Breezer]

The respect I have for this dude is insane. Absolute legend, god bless him.

[princessmarlena]

One of the most epic “I Quit” stories in history.

[SuperBuildsInMC]

I had the joy of seeing his MIG-15 in person at the Air Force Museum! On top of his Jet being on display, they also have: his TT33 pistol, the 100, 000 dollar check, and several personal belongings he had on him!

Very very cool display!

[zarithevill]

Passed away at the age of 90 in Florida, USA. What a giga chad