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

During the repatriation process, Miyoko keeps her Japanese passport so she can return. Crammed onto a dilapidated Soviet ship, returnees undergo a two-day journey before reaching a barren North Korean port city. For Masaji, the arrival feels like a desolate rebirth. While he and his mother grow anxious, his father remains optimistic, finally speaking his native language freely. After weeks in a freezing reception center, where they are fed dog meat, the family undergoes a 13-hour journey to their new home: a run-down house in a remote village. A government official welcomes them alongside local villagers, who ogle their belongings. Overwhelmed, Miyoko questions their future. Masaji tries to find solace in sleep before his first day at school.

Life in North Korea is defined by scarcity and fear. Homes lack basic amenities, and regular hygiene practices are uncommon. The family endures constant surveillance and prejudice due to their Japanese heritage. Miyoko’s lack of Korean proficiency hinders her employment, so she turns to foraging for food, while Do Sam-dal resorts to selling their belongings. A brutal encounter with the police shatters Do Sam-dal’s initial optimism: He admits to having been deceived, warning the family to be cautious.