Korean patrols came looking for them, searching for about a week. They hid in China for about 6 months and eventually made their way to Dalian, where some Koreans helped them get passage to South Korea. After publishing The Aquariums of Pyongyang, Kang met with US President George W. Bush and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. He has spoken with several organizations about human rights in North Korea and visited Japan for a discussion about abductees. Along with An and Lee Soon-ok, who was imprisoned in Kaechon concentration camp, he received the Democracy Award from the United States' National Endowment for Democracy in July 2003. Kang has not been in contact with his family since he defected. In 2011, it was assumed that his sister, Mi-ho, and her 11-year-old son are in Yodok concentration camp, having been sent back there as retaliation for Kang's defection. Bibliography "Give Us An 'Eclipse Policy'", The Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2005. See also Human rights in North Korea Political prisoner References External links "Child Prisoner: Kang Chol-hwan", MSN.com article, October 28, 2003. "Bush 'Moved By Defector's Book on N.K. Human Rights'", The Chosun Ilbo, May 29, 2005. "Ban Downplays Bush Meeting With N.Korean Author", The Chosun Ilbo, June 15, 2005. Kang Chol-hwan Freedom Collection interview 1968 births Living people Korean writers North Korean defectors North Korean human rights activists North Korean prisoners and detainees People from Pyongyang Political repression in North Korea Prisoners and detainees of North Korea Zainichi Korean people Experts on North Korea