Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea

In 1876 the Japanese signed a treaty that would eventually end the Joseon dynasty on the Korean Peninsula. Japanese overlords kicked property owners off of their land, and many were forced to work as slaves. This Japanese occupation lasted until 1945, when, in the wake of World War II, Japan was forced to give up its territories. Temporarily divided into two governments and territories, the Korean Peninsula split into North Korea, which was ruled by the Soviet Union, and South Korea, which was under the influence of the United States. In 1948 South Korea became its own country called the Republic of Korea, while North Korea became a one-party communist state (which is called “Joseon” by its citizens) after the last Korean dynasty. In an attempt to avoid invasion, Joseon shut itself off from the rest of the world.

Joseon leader Kim Il-sung was convinced that South Korea would eventually come under North Korean control. Under his rule, the government, media, art, culture, and propaganda all touted his prowess. These messages were disseminated widely among North Koreans, creating a fervid cult of personality. The Korean War, which lasted from 1950-1953, heightened tensions between both North and South Korea as each attempted to assert control over the peninsula, which resulted in few changes and more rivalry between the two.