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Let’s be honest. We’ve heard them before, but some of these are just bad. Here are 4 myths about North Korea and why they're completely wrong!

Myth 1: North Korea is just Kim Jong Un and nukes.

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News flash: North Korea is more than Kim Jong-un and nuclear weapons. It’s home to 25 million people who face one of the world’s most brutal regimes. The media headlines obsess over Kim Jong Un and nuclear warfare. But the North Korean people and their stories remind us that it is a country of people with potential and hope. Read stories of the North Korean people here.

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Myth 2: The North Korean people are all brainwashed.

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Goosestepping soldiers and images of hysterical crowds cheering for the Kim family are what the regime wants the world to see. But it’s definitely not the whole picture Even the regime’s tight control does not stop the North Korean people from becoming more aware of the outside world.

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New technology and smuggled foreign goods in the Jangmadang (markets) give North Koreans new outlets to the outside. And this access to illegal foreign media is eroding loyalty to the regime. Just like any other person, North Koreans binge-watch South Korean dramas and Hollywood films—even without WiFi! Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

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Myth 3: North Korea is hopeless and unchanging.

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Yes, the North Korean people face the world’s most authoritarian regime. But they are shaking up the status quo and challenging the regime’s control at the grassroots level. They’re starting businesses and those who are able to escape are sending money and information back into the country. The changes they’re driving are irreversible and are small steps towards change and opening inside North Korea. Time and time again, North Koreans prove their resourcefulness and resilience in a system that has failed them.

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Myth 4: There’s nothing I can do for the North Korean people.

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Wrong! Though it may seem like North Korea is an issue too big for any one person to solve, you can still make a direct impact on North Korean refugees today by following any of these steps:

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1. Donate to make rescue missions possible.

2. Watch a real rescue mission in action!

3. Start a rescue team to fundraise and spread awareness about the North Korean issue in your school or community.

4. Start a fundraiser on Facebook to fundraise in your community to help rescue refugees.

5. Connect with the global movement for the North Korean people by following us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube!