"I already feel less oppressed," said Reginald Hardington, a native of London who set off for North Korea to create a better life for his family. "From what I've heard, if you're being assaulted in North Korea, you're allowed to defend yourself! "The embattled British refugees told tales of terrible suffering and persecution in their country of origin, which led them to flee the cruelty of their homeland for the brighter future available to them in North Korea. When we looked at North Korea, we saw a much more open and free society. This is the type of independence we hope Great Britain will experience someday.