Category Archives: North Korea
Missiles fly; Citizens starve
Since January 2017, North Korea has already launched 11 missiles this year. Most of the news about North Korea these days focuses almost exclusively on those missiles. World media seem to forget about the majority of the people in North Korea, those who still suffer dire food shortages.
By mid-July 2017, North Korea had begun connecting high voltage power lines to the barbed wire fencing that runs along the Tumen and Yalu River. This is a move to further tighten their crackdown on people trying to escape into China.
For decades now, the entire nation of North Korea has been a huge prison.
Below are three news articles reminding us that in North Korea, people are suffering. Even the soldiers face long-term malnutrition and many people are shipped abroad to work as slaves, where they earn foreign currency, which is sent back to the regime.
Electrified fence – Asia Press
North Koreans working as slaves – Radio Free Asia
Soldiers suffering malnutrition – Asia Press
Deepest Condolences for American Student Warmbier
STATEMENT
Deepest Condolences for American Student Warmbier
Mr. Otto Warmbier, the US student released in coma by North Korea last week after 18 months in detention, died on June 19, according to AFP news on June 20, 2017.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Warmbier
LFNKR sincerely prays for the repose of his soul and we offer heartfelt sympathy and condolences to his family and to the US people.
Join Our Christmas Campaign to Rescue 6 NK Refugees
On Nov. 26, LFNKR received a rescue request from a group of six North Korean refugees, one of whom is a 4-year-old girl. These people are survivors of the heavy flooding caused by North Korea’s torrential rains in late August. Reportedly, more than 100,000 people lost their homes.
Flooded village in North Korea
One LFNKR member visited the China-North Korea border and took photos of the affected area. The following two photos were taken two days after the flooding.
After their village was completely swept away by the disaster, these six people fled to China, initially searching for food just to survive. Soon afterward they heard about LFNKR and contacted us for help relocating.
For more details, refer to: this CNN article
In this Christmas season, with the spirit of giving and receiving, we gratefully thank you for all the assistance you have sent us in the past. And we invite you to join us in helping these six refugees reach safety.
Still more proof of outrageous crimes against humanity
Following January’s fourth nuclear test, North Korea launched yet another missile on Feb. 7 despite strong and repeated criticism by the international community.
According to South Korean government estimates, the money spent by the North Korean government on the development of nuclear missiles totals somewhere between 2.8 and 3.2 billion US dollars. This much money would buy 9,330,000 to 10,660,000 tons of corn, enough to feed every person in North Korea for 31 to 36 months.
Meanwhile, North Korea still depends on food aid from other countries, including Russia and China.
These facts demonstrate the magnitude of the North Korean government’s crimes against humanity. The government of that country should, by rights, be standing trial before the International Criminal Court.
URGENT APPEAL
On the Human Rights Situation in North Korea
February 6, 2016
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1:
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January of this year despite the suffering of its people. Although North Korea claims that it was a hydrogen bomb, questions remain due to the nature of the seismic activity associated with the blast.
The North Korean government announced that the hydrogen bomb test “firmly protects the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of the nation…and reliably safeguards the peace on the Korean Peninsula and regional security” and even now is going ahead with missile launches.
Terror in a Solitary Confinement Cell
The MC’s height is 165cm (5.5ft). This illustrates the small size of the cell.
LFNKR On Dec. 5, jointly hosted a seminar as one of the events held during the first week of December to help promote public awareness of the North Korean human rights issue. The seminar was titled “Terror of Whistle Blowers in a Solitary Confinement Cell.” To emphasize what it was really like, LFNKR specially created two full-size punishment cells not just for display but also to give participants the experience of being in the cages.
We invited Mr. Jeong Kwang-il, who has experienced being locked up in one of the punishment cells, to talk about the confinement and one of the tortures called “pigeon torture.” In the pigeon torture, a person’s hands are tied behind their back and handcuffed so that they can neither stand nor sit.
Mr. Jeong explains excruciating postures in the cage
Mr. Jeong Kwang-il is Director of No Chains for North Korea and the Director of Human Rights Investigations for North Korea Watch. He was confined in Yodok Concentration Camp, one of North Korea’s most notorious camps.
Read about his experiences in Yodok:
Many North Koreans are tortured and sent to the concentration camps without trial, just as Mr. Jeong was.
Happy New Year
Happy New Year
From Hiroshi Kato, Executive Director,
Life Funds for North Korean Refugees
Wishing all of you health and prosperity in the New Year
It appears that North Korea has succeeded in establishing a three-generation political dynasty. However, the UN has passed resolutions condemning the North’s human rights abuses, calling them grave, widespread, systematic abuses that amount to crimes against humanity. The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution critical of the DPRK with the support of 119 countries.
One Volunteer’s Story
Ever wonder who does the behind-the-scenes work in an NGO like ours?
A while back Hiroshi Kato, who heads this organization, posted a call for volunteers – someone to help LFNKR with translation work. Since this NGO is made up almost exclusively of volunteers, and there’s always more to do than time available, we are always delighted to hear from those wanting to help.
One young lady in the US, a “Mrs M,” contacted us offering her assistance. Only thing was, she wasn’t sure her skills were good enough. We sent her a couple of short articles to try, and as it turns out, her skills were excellent. She’s been translating for us ever since.
And then the other day we wondered, would readers be interested in hearing how one volunteer started?
We thought that you, our readers, might indeed be interested, so here it is – Mrs M’s story: