President Trump shared the story of a North Korean defector at the State of the Union address Tuesday, and it was arguably the highlight of the night.
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“We are joined by one more witness to the ominous nature of this regime,” Trump said.
“His name is Mr. Ji Seong-ho. In 1996, Seong-ho was a starving boy in North Korea. One day, he tried to steal coal from a railroad car to barter for a few scraps of food, which were very hard to get. In the process, he passed out on the train tracks, exhausted from hunger. He woke up as a train ran over his limbs. He then endured multiple amputations without anything to dull the pain or the hurt. His brother and sister gave what little food they had to help him recover and ate dirt themselves, permanently stunting their own growth.” (RELATED: Trump Honors The Flag: ‘We Proudly Stand For The National Anthem’ [VIDEO])
“Later, he was tortured by North Korean authorities after returning from a brief visit to China. His tormenters wanted to know if he’d met any Christians. He had, and he resolved after that to be free. Seong-ho traveled thousands of miles on crutches, all across China and southeast Asia to freedom.”
“Most of his family followed. His father was caught trying to escape and was tortured to death. Today, he lives in Seoul, where he rescues other defectors and broadcasts into North Korea what the regime fears most: the truth. Today, he has a new leg, but Seong-ho, I understand, you still keep those old crutches as a reminder of how far you’ve come. Your great sacrifice is an inspiration to us all.” (RELATED: Trump Puts The World On Notice: ‘The Era Of Economic Surrender Is Over’ [VIDEO])