Category Archives: Human Rights Abuses

Basic Report on Human Rights Conditions in North Korea

On Feb. 16, Hiroshi Kato, Executive Director of LFNKR lectured on the abuse of human rights in North Korea in response to an invitation by the Working Team for Enhancing Human Rights Diplomacy and International Contribution of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

Based on the UN human rights report on North Korea 2014, Mr. Kato’s talk covered the specific human rights abuses still going on in North Korea according to actual experiences of North Korean defectors interviewed by LFNKR.  So far, LFNKR has helped over 200 North Korean defectors to reach the destinations where they wished to resettle, including in Japan.

Statement on Enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law

On June 30, the Hong Kong government enacted and put into force the “Hong Kong National Security Law” that strengthens the central government’s control of Hong Kong. It is now possible to crack down on a wide range of actions that are deemed counter to the Chinese government’s policies. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment. For “serious situations,” the central government has established a new security maintenance agency in Hong Kong that will be directly involved in compulsory investigation, enabling trials and enforcement of sentences in mainland China.

Inhumane Repatriation

LFNKR strongly protest the forced repatriation of two North Korean fishermen requesting asylum

The Unification Ministry of South Korea has issued a press release stating that on November 7, the government handed over two North Korean fishermen to North Korean officials at the border village of Panmunjeon in the demilitarized zone.

New Book Chapter Gives Voice to North Korean Refugees

Professor Tony Docan-Morgan of the University of Wisconsin has co-authored a book chapter that aims to give voice to North Korean refugees, and specifically looks at the experiences of North Korean refugee memoirists.

After examining the document, we found the contents to be an extremely useful reference to help people understand the suffering of North Korean people.

We recommend reading this document (or at the very least skimming it).

Here is the link to the document in Google books:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P76I0AKG6NLpKsSGwan_aoTcKEBUetuU/view

Or if you would rather download a PDF copy, click here.

Human Rights and Denuclearization of Equal Importance

LFNKR Statement on Historic Singapore Summit between US President and North Korean Leader

June 15, 2018

On June 12, 2018, the world watched as a historic US-North Korea summit was held, and a written agreement was signed by the two leaders.  Contrary to the hopes of the majority of people, no one knows

Hundreds of slave laborers missing ?

North Korea announced on May 12 that it will invite journalists from South Korea, the United States, China, England and Russia to witness the shutdown of its Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Hamgyong Province between May 23 and 25.  Major North Korean media, including Korean Central News Agency and Korean Central Broadcasting, report that the closure will be accomplished by

No Christmas Presents for North Korean Refugees?

While we enjoy our rich and exciting Christmas holidays, most North Koreans live in constant hunger.

As we know, it’s easy to be generous with those nearest us.  Far away, on the other side of the world, however, there are many tragic stories of starvation and fear. 

Mapping Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea

New Report on Rights Abuses

Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), a Seoul-based non-governmental organization, published on July 19 a report entitled “Mapping Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea.”

Providing information on the killing sites, mass graves, and documentary evidence, the report adds to the report more specific information to the detailed findings of the commission of inquiry on human rights in DPRK” by UN Human Rights Council.

LFNKR applauds the great efforts of TJWG to prepare this unique report. It has already generated new momentum for thoroughly investigating the crimes against humanity in North Korea.

Mapping Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea