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Lee Young-wha's mom, Park Soon-shim, crossed the China-Laos border with her son Young-kyu three months after Young-wha's escape. Park had expected to spend two more years saving enough money for her and her son's escape. She had initially promised Young-wha, "We will be in Seoul by the winter of 2009" -- but the dream came true much earlier. Durihana Mission helped with most of the expenses, after Young-wha emailed the mission.
Park followed every step Young-wha had taken, over rivers and mountain passes, changing cars and trains time and time again, all the time thinking, "My daughter passed through this way." Laos' security was much tighter after its change of government.
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Young-wha's mom, Park Soon-shim, crossing the China-Laos border. Park is currently residing in a refugee camp in Bangkok.
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It was difficult to cross the border so Park hid in a shelter in the border town for more than a week. Young-wha had previously waited nine days and eight nights to reach Thailand from North Korea but it took her mom eight days more than that.
Park and her son should arrive in Korea soon. The whole family will reconvene in Korea with big smiles all round, far earlier than they had dared dream possible.
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