The Orphan Master's Son

Early in the story, a young Jun Do, trained in tunnel fighting in the demilitarized zone, observes, “The key to fighting in the dark was no different: you had to perceive your opponent, sense him, and never use your imagination. The darkness inside your head is something your imagination fills with stories that have nothing to do with the real darkness around you” (15). Tunnel fighting prepares Jun Do for a number of things he has to do in the dark—his clandestine kidnapping missions, his nighttime surveillance of nearby vessels in the water, and ultimately his fight with Commander Ga in the shaft of a prison mine.

The novel begins with Jun Do naming orphans after famous revolutionary martyrs. He himself bears the name of a martyr who took his own life simply to prove his loyalty. He ends up sacrificing himself for Sun Moon and her family, but ultimately he is recognized as a martyr for a false story broadcast over the official radio.

The members of the Junma all bear tattoos of their wives on their chests, which serve a number of purposes. The tattoos will act as a form of identification and keep their absent wives close to their hearts, but ultimately, the tattoos are what allow them to leave North Korean soil without fear of defection.