Kang Dong-wan

Professor, Dong-A University

A cargo truck travels perilously along a cliff, filled with children. They are headed towards a cornfield in a rural area. These children should be in school, but instead, they are being mobilized for work under the name of "rural mobilization." If such a situation were to occur in South Korea, parents would protest, demand accountability, and even call for the impeachment of the Minister of Education and the President. However, in present-day North Korea, these scenes are unfolding. Even witnessing it firsthand, I found it difficult to believe. The truck was packed with children, riding on a vehicle racing along treacherous mountain roads. If we were to raise our voices against such actions for South Korean children, it is only natural that we should denounce these occurrences for North Korean children as well. This is precisely the issue of human rights in North Korea. Children in both South Korea and North Korea should not be subjected to forced labor. During the farming season in North Korea, school playgrounds were empty, devoid of children. It was inconceivable. The fields were almost entirely occupied by children. All day long, they would stoop down, pulling out weeds and gathering pebbles. From one end to the other of the Amnok (Yalu) River, no matter where you looked, you would witness children working in the fields.

<Photo> Children being transported on a cargo truck as part of rural mobilization efforts

<Photo> Children diligently working in the fields

While filming a village near the China-North Korea border, I noticed striking red writings that read, "Ah, we have no envy in the world!" The writing was on the nursery with North Korea's propaganda-driven system of free education. However, the slogans displayed on the building, proclaiming the absence of envy and expressing gratitude to General Kim Jong-un, made me question if these children truly lived a content and envy-free life. Reports by international organizations, such as the United Nations, shed light on the deceptive nature of the North Korean regime's propaganda, particularly when it comes to the food shortage and malnutrition affecting North Korean children.

<Photo> A nursery adorned with propaganda slogans, including "We have no envy in the world" and "Thank you, dear General Kim Jong-un."

As I crossed the Amnok (Yalu) River, a majestic golden statue caught my eye. Despite the river's width, I could still discern the grandeur of the statue. At that moment, a group of people approached the base of the statue. They were members of the North Korean Children's Union, visiting the site of historic significance. Compared to the children standing beneath the statue, the monument appeared truly big in size. It depicted the image of Kim Il-sung, who crossed the Amnok River at the age of 14, embarking on a remarkable journey for independence and education. The expressions of the children gazing across the border into China were distinct. Adorned with red neckties, symbolizing their membership in the Korean Children's Union, one could only wonder about the world they envisioned beyond the river, transcending the realms of dictatorship.

<Photo> North Korean children receiving educational instruction on a historic revolutionary site beneath the statue of Kim Il-sung.

A group of children trod along a mountainous path, each carrying a backpack and proudly waving a red flag as they followed their leader. The white covers on their backpacks drew my attention, revealing inscriptions such as "Total Bomb," "100 Percent Dedication," and "The Revolutionary Spirit of Baekdu." These slogans appeared to instill a sense of determination. When North Korean children reach the age of 14, they join the "Red Youth Guards," a youth military organization.

During this time, they engage in marches and participate in outdoor training that lasts for over 10 days. These children transition into young soldiers, proudly carrying the red flag, without experiencing the typical rites of passage during adolescence. What awaited them beyond the threshold? The sound of their footsteps merged with the hazy dust, marking their journey into the unknown.