Tag Archives: North Korean defectors
South Korean Government invalidates aid worker’s passport
South Korean President, Moon Jae-in, has a reputation as a human rights lawyer. He seems, however, to be allowing repatriation of North Korean defectors fleeing from serious human rights violations in North Korea without giving them any protection or adequate consideration.
NGO activists and Christian missionaries who work to protect North Korean defectors who have fled to China are working in China without fear of being monitored, arrested, detained, and deported from China. However, the South Korean government has taken measures to revoke or to refuse renewal of the activists’ passports, claiming that they are undermining national credibility. As a result, the South Korean government is putting pressure on human rights activists, and is selling out to the Chinese government. We at LFNKR dare not fail to point out the non-humanitarian, inhumane acts of the South Korean government.
The following is our summary of an article in Chosun Ilbo on Feb. 1, 2022.
South Korean Government invalidates passport of businessman imprisoned in China for helping North Korean defectors, claiming “damage of national prestige.”
On Feb. 1, it was confirmed that the South Korean government invalidated the passport of a South Korean businessman, “Mr. A,” and restricted its re-issuance, saying that he “damaged national prestige and committed illegal smuggling acts.” Mr. A was arrested by Chinese security authorities for helping North Korean defectors in China and served time in prison.
Former NK Defector Speaks at One World Festival
Refugee Tells Her Story
Koh Jeong Mee talks about tortures she has experienced.
On Feb. sixth and seventh LFNKR participated in the One World Festival held in Osaka, Japan to help boost the public’s awareness of the many human rights abuses that continue in North Korea.
At the yearly One World Festival, NGO/NPOs, international institutions, local administration and companies involved in international cooperation gather together to tell about their activities, and to hold symposia and panel discussions on such issues as peace, human rights and the environment.
The following is a brief summary of the report prepared by Mr. K.G., a member of LFNKR. It describes the testimony presented by Ms. Koh Jeong Mee, a former NK defector.
Update – 3 Ladies Who Defected
Steady Progress in 2 Careers
Ms. E has worked a number of different jobs, and eventually she decided to become a beautician. So, after she gained her Japanese high school diploma via correspondence, she took the entrance exam for a famous beautician’s college in Tokyo, which of course she passed. She tells us that she is looking forward to learning this new skill. She is confident that by becoming a beautician her expertise will enable her to help those who need encouragement and others who may need their spirits lifted through her skills.Rescue Requests Growing Again
Fear Spreading Among High Officials
Chang Song-thaek, the once-powerful uncle of Kim Jong-Un and former number two in North Korea’s power structure, was arrested and executed in December 2013. Since then, power struggles and purges have grown in the country. According to reports filtering out, the ongoing investigations, purges and executions are often directed toward officials responsible for the earning of foreign currencies. So widespread have these practices become that they are now cutting a swath through mid-level management. Increasing numbers of officials are falling before this reign of terror. The instability of the regime has even had a dampening effect on the economic activities of the general populace.
Rescues Stalled for Lack of Funds
More NK Refugees Awaiting Rescue – Help Us Get Them to Safety
LFNKR has received desperate cries for help from NK defectors. A severely physically handicapped father, 59, and his two sons (ages 27 and 25) have risked their lives to escape from North Korea. They are now in Yanji, waiting for us to help them make it the rest of the way to South Korea.
LFNKR Statement on the 9 Repatriated Orphans
These 9 Orphans Are Only the Latest Outrage
Since 1998, Life Funds for North Korean Refugees (LFNKR), a Japanese NGO based in Tokyo, has been engaged in the rescue of North Korean refugees suffering from tragic conditions in China and some Southeast Asian countries.
Pastor Joo Tells His Story
Reported by Dong-A Ilbo (May 31, 2013):
News outlet Dong-A Ilbo interviewed the pastor who guided the nine North Korean defector orphans during their attempted escape from China to Laos.
We wanted to leave the Lao immigration center because something felt wrong, but the South Korean embassy told us “Stay”
Book on NK Death Camp Published in Japanese
Many Stories of Wanton Cruelty
Last month, LFNKR published the Japanese-language version of the book ‘Chongo-ri Kyo Hwa So’ for release in Japan. This book contains facts, information and stories from interviews with 8,934 North Korean defectors, including 81 who had been detained at Chongo-ri Kyo Hwa So, more commonly known as the “Death Camp”. Many of the stories include horrifying colored sketches drawn by a few of the former detainees at the Death Camp.