Former North Korean Acting Ambassador to Kuwait, Ryu Hyun-woo, surrendered to South Korea in September 2019. Once an elite figure in North Korea, he recently revealed in an interview with American media that senior North Korean officials are under tight surveillance, feeling like they have one foot in hell and never knowing when they might meet their demise.
According to Radio Free Asia, Ryu Hyun-woo used to reside in an apartment building in the capital city of Pyongyang, where his neighbors were high-ranking North Korean officials. He disclosed during the radio interview that elite individuals like himself face even greater scrutiny than the general public and often become scapegoats when the leadership deems it necessary.
In a condensed version of the interview, Ryu Hyun-woo mentioned that there is an administrative district in Pyongyang where numerous officials reside in six buildings. Four buildings house generals from the North Korean military, one is for high-ranking officials of the Workers’ Party Central Committee, and another is for senior officials from the administrative department.
He shared an incident where the elevator he was in suddenly stopped at the second floor in the building where he resided on the fourth floor. Being the youngest person in the elevator, he had to climb out through the escape hatch in the ceiling to reach the third floor and managed to rescue other officials trapped inside by opening the doors.
Living in such quarters has its pros and cons, Ryu Hyun-woo explained. The downside is the constant surveillance, monitoring, and inability to freely speak your mind without being overheard within the confines of your home. He cited the case of former North Korean Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Army, Ri Yong-Ho, who was purged and executed for criticizing leader Kim Jong-un alongside his wife at home.
Ryu Hyun-woo shared instances where even his mother-in-law signaled him to stay silent by covering her mouth to prevent eavesdropping. He and his father-in-law resorted to exchanging ideas in places where they wouldn’t be monitored, like during their morning jogs or walks.
Reflecting on past events, Ryu Hyun-woo recalled how Park Nam Ki, former Minister of Planning and Finance of the Workers’ Party, faced execution in January 2010 following the failure of a currency reform in 2009. Park Nam Ki’s family was subsequently sent to political prisoner camps in February that year.
In the early hours of the morning, military trucks from the National Security Agency arrived to confiscate all belongings of Park Nam Ki’s family, causing commotion and distress among the city residents. Such harrowing experiences left Ryu Hyun-woo trembling at the thought of a similar fate for himself and his loved ones.
Discussing the risk of leaking secrets upon leaving high-ranking positions like working in “Office 39” of the Workers’ Party, where one has knowledge of fund flows and relationships with Kim Jong-un, Ryu Hyun-woo emphasized the peril of potentially divulging classified information if reintegrated into society.
Despite being allocated guarded housing, Ryu Hyun-woo noted that the treatment was far from ideal. His retired father-in-law was assigned a home devoid of even a wardrobe and received meager potato rations over a six-month period.
Expressing a wish to experience an ordinary life if given a second chance, Ryu Hyun-woo emphasized the precarious existence of high-level officials with one foot metaphorically in hell, underscoring the uncertainty and constant fear of death looming over them.
Contrary to common belief, Ryu Hyun-woo debunked the notion that North Korean elites share the same fate as Kim Jong-un. He cited examples where minor infractions led to swift and severe punishment, such as the case of former Minister of the People’s Armed Forces, Hyon Yong Chol, who was executed for dozing off during a meeting, despite it being a common occurrence for a nearly 70-year-old after inspecting military bases and walking. The idea that elites face the same destiny as Kim Jong-un is a misconception.