Monthly Archives: March 2009
Part 2 of Kim Chun Gun’s Story
His Dream – to Own a Yakitori Restaurant
Kim Chun Gun had only 1 month left until his visa expired when he decided to contact Life Funds for North Korean Refugees (LFNKR) – basically his last hope. When contacting us, Chun Gun mentioned that a Mr. Shin, the president of a Korean company, had suggested he get in touch with LFNKR. He, however, knew President Shin only indirectly and had never actually met him. He was told that President Shin, a humanitarian aid worker, had helped Chun Gun’s mother, who had already resettled in South Korea. Still, Chun Gun was uncertain whether mentioning Shin’s name would even work.
Rumors – China May Recognize Some NK Refugees
Expectations High, but Will Plan Be Implemented?
Rumors filtering out of China recently suggest that the Chinese government may begin granting refugee status to some North Korean defectors. The Chinese government has so far stuck to its official position that there are no North Korean refugees in China, that North Korean defectors have entered China illegally, and that their stay in China is illegal.
Recommendations for the Obama Administration
When the president of one of most influential American NGOs having strong ties with the US government visited Japan in early March, LFNKR directors met with him to discuss the North Korean refugees.
We submitted the following recommendations on the approach to China, and requested that he strongly urge the Obama Administration to adopt the recommendations in establishing its approach to China.
Seminar on Refugees & Human Rights to Be Held in Tokyo
Agenda for Tokyo Seminar
| 13:00 | Registration “North Korean Children Beyond the Border” a documentary film (20minutes) to be played continuously as people enter… |
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| 13:30 | Welcoming Remarks Hiroshi Kato, Secretariat Director of Life Funds for North Korean Refugees (LFNKR) |
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| 14:00 | State of Human Rights in Asia Kanae Doi Tokyo Director of Human Rights Watch |
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| 14:20 | Human Trafficking Forum Stories from the victims Opening remarks – Introduction Testimony from victims Participants Q & A |
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| 15:20 | Presentation Trafficked North Korean women and their Children in China Kate Nielsen Director of International Relations, LFNKR |
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| 15:40 | Presentation The invisible trafficking to China from Kachin State in Myanmar Shirley Seng Director of Kachin Women’s Association in Thailand |
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| 16:00 | Presentation Trafficking of North Koreans in China Lin Fei Representative of Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition Japan |
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| 16:20 | Presentation Reception condition of women and children asylum seekers in Japan Eri Ishikawa Secretary general of Japan Association for Refugees |
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| 16:40 | Presentation Resettlement of North Korean Women and children in Japan Kotaro Miura Representative of Society to Help Returnees to North Korea |
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| 17:00 | Panel Discussion Refugees and Human Rights in Asia |
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| 17:40 | Closing Remarks |