Timothy Cho was only nine years old when his parents escaped from North Korea, leaving him behind to fend for himself. He found himself living on the streets, witnessing public executions firsthand. His parents, who were both educators, became defectors, eliminating his access to education. Instead of attending school, he faced forced labor as his future.
Born in Onsong in the 1980s, Timothy’s early life involved daily rituals of bowing to images of the ruling Kim family before heading to school. However, after his parents’ departure, his grandmother initially took him in. Yet, due to the severe famine in the mid-1990s, she couldn’t support him financially, leading him to become homeless.
Recounting his challenging childhood experiences, Timothy shared tales of hunger, stealing food, and witnessing brutal public executions. He vividly described how he survived among homeless children who resorted to theft for sustenance. He recalled the grim sight of prisoners being executed in front of onlookers, an event he witnessed at just 11 years old.
At 17, Timothy attempted his first escape from North Korea during Kim Jong Il’s reign, managing to cross into China temporarily. There, he observed people dressed in jeans and sporting varied hair colors, acts punishable by death in North Korea. Despite being captured and sent back initially, he eventually fled to China again.
In 2008, Timothy arrived in the UK, where he pursued English studies in Bolton, followed by a degree in politics at Salford University and a master’s degree from Liverpool University. Now in his mid to late thirties, he resides in Stockport with his wife and two children. He recently ran as a Conservative candidate for Heatons North councillor but was unsuccessful.
Presently, Timothy serves as the Secretariat for the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea. His revelations about the ongoing executions in North Korea have surfaced following reports of extreme punishments, including beatings with hammers and shootings of pregnant women. A study by the Transitional Justice Working Group highlighted a surge in executions during the Covid pandemic, with 144 documented cases resulting in the deaths of hundreds of individuals.
The report detailed various execution methods, indicating that firing squads using rifles or machine guns were commonly employed. Most executions were public, with some individuals facing capital punishment for simply consuming South Korean music and films.
