40 Years of Captivity: The Foreigners Kidnapped by North Korea

In the 1970s and 80s, hundreds, possibly thousands, of men, women and children were abducted by North Korea’s Secret Service on the orders of Kim Jung II. The majority of these victims came from Japan and South Korea but it’s believed that nationals from at least 11 other countries, including Thailand, Romania, Holland and France were also taken. Some were abducted to teach North Korean spies their language and culture so that their spies could integrate more easily in foreign countries. Others were taken to provide wives for American deserters or North Korean army officers. The fate of most of these hostages is still unknown. Some were held hostage in the totalitarian dictatorship for 40 years before finally being released. Others died or were killed in captivity. However some may still be alive and being held against their will. We investigate the phenomenon of the North Korean abductees. ------ We have the stories that global corporations don't want you to know. Our channel is home to award-winning investigations, current affairs and revealing documentaries that challenge unchecked global powers and give you the real, human stories behind the headlines. Want to understand more about our world? Want to delve beyond news headlines and understand global issues more deeply? Subscribe to DISPATCH for all this and more. Make sure to hit notifications to never miss a new release!