A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea

The news of Kim Il-sung’s death plunges Masaji and his fellow workers into shock. Sobbing in unison with his colleagues, Masaji questions his mixed emotional state. Back home, the news inspires a similar outpouring of emotion. The public mourning quickly shifts to criticism on Kim Jong-Il, the chosen successor, who lacks his father’s revered status. Masaji sees little hope for improvement under the new leader, recognizing the same hollow promises.

In the 1990s, famine devastates North Korea, claiming many lives. Workers stretch meager rations due to distribution delays, and violence erupts. Propaganda offers advice on alternative food sources, and citizens forage for anything edible, often with disastrous health consequences. Farming and industry halt, and electricity becomes scarce. The government allows cultivation of vacant land, but without seeds and amid rampant theft, farming proves futile. The streets teem with desperate people and unclaimed bodies. Unofficial markets spring up, but their exorbitant prices are prohibitively high. As Masaji watches starvation take its toll on his family, he worries about his eldest son’s whereabouts and his children’s livelihoods. However, while other families fall apart, they maintain their familial bond, leaning on one another for support.

People begin openly criticizing the government but never discuss overthrowing it, which Masaji attributes to deep-seated indoctrination. Recalling his parents’ dying wishes to return to Japan, Masaji decides to defect alone, believing his family wouldn’t survive the journey. Encouraged by his wife, he leaves immediately, promising to secure his family’s escape in the future.

Masaji sneaks onto a train headed towards the heavily guarded border with China, evading capture before reaching the banks of the Yalu River. The short distance between North Korea and China surprises him, and he spends days watching the guards’ movements. After much observation, he takes a chance on a stormy night, braving the river’s current but losing consciousness after hitting his head. He wakes in China, where Kim, an elderly Korean man, nurses him back to health after rescuing him. Masaji feels born again. After he shares his harrowing story, Kim warns of the Chinese government’s bureaucratic hurdles, advising Masaji to shelter with his sons to avoid detection. Masaji alternates between Kim’s sons’ houses, marveling at the quality of life in China. After contacting Japanese institutions, Masaji bids farewell to Kim as his sons help him reach a consulate. At the consulate, Masaji experiences comfort unknown in North Korea but remains tormented by thoughts of his family and nightmares of deportation. Negotiations with the Chinese government drag on, fueling his paranoia. Finally, he receives news of his exit approval under the condition that the Chinese government won’t intervene if he’s caught. Anticipating phone taps, Masaji moves to a liaison office with the consul’s help. He later boards a charter flight to Tokyo, expressing gratitude to the consul and his staff.