Man who escaped North Korea twice reveals the wild rules residents live by in 'prison country'

A man who escaped from North Korea on two occasions has revealed some of the rules that civilians in the 'prison country' have to follow.

North Korea has become increasingly secretive and closed off from the outside world.

Few images have been seen online that show the average life of North Koreans.

In 2021, satellite images of the Korean peninsula show a stark difference between north and south - with the North being obscured by literal darkness.

While the country has run tours for outsiders wishing to visit the country, there are rules to what you can and can't do - and your very own assigned guide will often dictate what you can do and visit.

But one way to learn more about the highly secretive country is from people who have managed to escape.

This is a highly risky thing to attempt as even if someone successfully escapes the regime is known to carry out reprisals against the families of defectors, as per PBS News.

Timothy Cho is one person who managed to escape North Korea not just once, but twice.

Timothy Cho escaped from North Korea twice (LADbible TV)

Speaking to LADbible TV, Timothy revealed some of the aspects of life in North Korea, including the draconian rules civilians have to abide by.

Many of these were aimed specifically at limiting people's access to the outside world.

Timothy said: "Of course you have no phones, and even if there are a few phone which those who are the elite can use you are only allowed to call within the country, messages and calls are tapped."

Things like television and the internet are closely controlled, with police removing all but one channel from TVs.

Consuming or smuggling in media manufactured in the South or countries such as Japan or the US is reported to carry severe penalties.

But the rules also cover people's appearance.

"You can't have jeans, because jeans they say it's American production, and America is the greatest enemy," he explained. "You only have certain hair types in this country, it's a tragic joke. If you have it like the leader's hairstyle you end up in prison."

People are of course forbidden from leaving the country, but it goes further than that.

He said: "In North Korea every step of the movement within towns, villages, you need permissions and documents to travel."

Timothy even recalled how he had personally witnessed a public execution when he was just 11 years old, giving a chilling reminder of the consequences should people fail to follow the rules.

He said: "That's why when you were born we did not expect to leave the country.

"We would never think of that because we were born without passport in this country.

"This is why we call it prison country."