A searing story of starvation and survival in North Korea, followed by a
dramatic escape, rescue by activists and Christian missionaries, and
success in the United States thanks to newfound faith and courage.
Inside the hidden and mysterious world of North Korea, Joseph Kim lived
a young boy's normal life until he was five. Then disaster struck: the
first wave of the Great Famine, a long, terrible ordeal that killed
millions, including his father, and sent others, like his mother and
only sister, on desperate escape routes into China.
Alone on the streets, Joseph learned to beg and steal. He had nothing
but a street-hardened survival instinct. Finally, in desperation, he,
too, crossed a frozen river to escape to China. There a kindly Christian
woman took him in, kept him hidden from the authorities, and gave him
hope. Soon, through an underground network of activists, he was spirited
to the American consulate and became one of just a handful of North
Koreans to be brought to the US as refugees.
Joseph knew no English and had never been a good student. Yet the
kindness of his foster family changed his life. He turned a new leaf,
became a dedicated student, mastered English, and made it to college,
where he is now thriving thanks to his faith and inner strength.
Under the Same Sky is an unforgettable story of suffering and
redemption.
