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Unyoung, female, arrived in South Korea in 2016
I cried when I saw the Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un shake hands. When I was in North Korea, I was taught to hate Americans and America, that North Korea must destroy the USA, and that I must attack Americans whenever I see them. Now that I am free, I have now met some Americans, and they can be nice people. I was so nervous when I first met foreigners, and I was afraid that Americans would try to take advantage of me or to harm me.
Of course, there are bad people everywhere, but North Korea only talked about Americans as being killers.
What is even more impressive is that this summit means that the two Koreas can find a way to reunify. I'm not against Trump, but the two Koreas need to take this opportunity to find a way to get along. This summit also means that North Korea has showed up at international level. This means North Korea can open up its economy and hopefully its people can be free.
Hyeonju, female, arrived in South Korea in 2009
I'm not optimistic that this agreement will improve relations. I won't believe Kim Jong-Un has changed until he changes the country and allows people to be free. He is still trying to protect his power.
I love Trump, this would not have happened without him. North Korea would still be hiding. He has demonstrated his power even to get North Korea to the international stage. No other U.S. president could do that. I don't believe that North Korea has changed, but the one good thing is that North Korea finally looks like a normal country.
Hyun-hee, female, arrived in South Korea in 2017
The summit was a show. North Korea cannot give up its nuclear weapons. Ever since I was a child, I was hearing, "Don't waste your money on candy or frivolous things, we need to save money to build our nuclear weapons."
Nuclear weapons are part of North Korea's identity. I think people around the world can't understand that because they think North Korea is a normal country. I am ashamed of South Koreans eager to follow North Korea.
They really don't know the reality of North Korea, and the media here is so eager to present North Korea in a positive light.
Even if relations improve, I am afraid to go back to North Korea, even after reunification, because I'm not confident that South Korea really considers North Korean refugee rights as a priority.
Dongjin, male, arrived in South Korea in 2009
To those of us who grew up in North Korea, it seems like a dream to see Kim Jong-Un talking to the U.S. president. I am happy because it means war is unlikely because they are talking.
One hope is that KJU said he wants to develop the economic situation. He said it publicly, so maybe my family and others can have a better life there. It doesn't mean reunification, it just means that NK can be more open.
I can't be sure about Trump because he changes his mind so often, so I can't be sure what will happen. If Kim Jong-un violates the agreement even a little, then the U.S. and the world should impose intense relations that will choke North Korea's elite.
Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center, compiled these statements from interviews with refugees studying in TNKR.
