I was born at the end of the 1993. The regime stopped giving food to the people. Three million people died from 1995 to 1998. It's one of the world's worst man-made famines in history.

The quote “I was born at the end of 1993. The regime stopped giving food to the people. Three million people died from 1995 to 1998. It’s one of the world’s worst man-made famines in history.” by Park Yeon-mi offers a stark and personal account of the devastating famine in North Korea during the mid-1990s. Park, a North Korean defector and human rights activist, highlights the catastrophic consequences of the government's policies, which severely restricted access to food and basic necessities, leading to mass starvation and suffering.

At the heart of the quote is the reality of a man-made famine, where political decisions, rather than natural disasters, were the primary cause of widespread hunger and death. Park’s mention of the regime stopping food distribution underscores the intentional or negligent role the government played in exacerbating the crisis. The death toll of three million people within just a few years illustrates the scale and severity of the tragedy, which remains one of the most harrowing humanitarian disasters of the late 20th century.

Park’s personal connection, having been born during this period, adds a deeply human element to the historical facts. It reflects how political oppression and mismanagement directly impact individual lives and entire generations. Her testimony serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost behind abstract statistics and political rhetoric.

The origin of this quote comes from Park Yeon-mi’s public speeches and writings, where she shares her experiences growing up in North Korea and her eventual escape. As a vocal advocate for human rights and freedom, she uses her story to raise global awareness about the realities inside North Korea and to call for action against authoritarian regimes that perpetrate such suffering. This quote captures both her personal history and the broader tragedy faced by millions under oppressive governance.