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For North Korean Defectors, Freedom Brings Fear of Unknown
For North Koreans, entering freer countries is like encountering a new universe: the lies of a lifetime under a totalitarian government become exposed. That revelation begins - to a degree - in the relative freedom of China, with its market-oriented policies and greater personal liberties. However, it is in Thailand where most get their first taste of real freedom to decide where to go, what to do, and who or what to believe in. For some, the feeling brings exhilaration - but also fear of being suddenly on their own. In the final installment in his series tracing the lives of North Korean refugees, VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Bangkok.