text:  was evaluated. He was also unhappy. He felt that he'd been judged for having a relatively low social background, which is really important in North Korea. People are really ranked according to their family histories and their family backgrounds, and he didn't feel good about that. He said the final straw was when he'd asked to go to Mexico for medical treatment, and that request was denied. So he abruptly made a decision. He told his wife and daughter they were going to live overseas, and that's when he defected.