April 19, 2022, Washington, D.C.
One Korea Network (OKN) and KCPAC (Korean Conservative Political Action Conference) applaud and commend the State Department on the release last week of the 2021 edition of the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. In particular, we are encouraged to see the Report on South Korea highlighting the issue of the revisions to the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act (the so-called ‘anti-leaflet bill’) whereby North Korean defector activists and other human rights organizations have been banned from sending information into North Korea.
On pages 7 and 8 of the Country Report on South Korea, under Section 2 – Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: A) Freedom of Express, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media, the case involving North Korean defector activist PARK, Sang Hak and his organization, Fighters for Free North Korea (FFNK), is mentioned.
“It is shameful that the South Korean government is called out by the State Department’s Report regarding its violations of South Korean citizens’ freedom of expression and civil liberties,” said Henry Song, Director of Government Relations at OKN.
“These actions by the Moon Jae-in government are a blot on South Korea’s reputation as a beacon of freedom in Northeast Asia and it is our hope that the incoming Yoon Suk-yeol administration will minimize or reverse the detrimental effects of this bill,” continued Song.
The Country Report on North Korea continues to highlight one of the worst ongoing human rights situations in the world, and the Report reminds the world once again that the dictatorial regime led by Kim Jong Un continues to deny its citizens rights, dignity, respect, and freedom enjoyed by citizens in other countries.
“The 2021 Report on North Korea’s abysmal human rights practices is yet another reminder of the depravity of this regime,” said Arthur Lee, the DC Regional Director of OKN. “Instead of spending money and resources to lift its citizens out of poverty and hunger, the Kim regime continues to provoke its neighbors, threaten South Korea, and endanger the entire Indo-Pacific region. May this Report remind the international community to bring accountability to the Kim regime,” said Lee.
Another development worth noting is the recent confirmation of Ambassador James C. O’Brien as the Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination.
“We hope that Ambassador O’Brien with his decades of foreign policy expertise and experience, will work to ensure that North Korea, and other bad actors adhere to and are held accountable for their actions and violations of United Nations mandates and international law,” said Grant Newsham, President of KCPAC. “We hope that this new Office led by an Ambassador-level leader will work with others in the international community to actually enforce existing sanctions and to ensure that North Korea and those aiding and abetting the Pyongyang regime are brought to account for their actions,” continued Newsham.
Links to the 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices:
2021 Report: https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/
2021 Report on South Korea: https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/south-korea/
2021 Report on North Korea: https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/north-korea/
For media inquiries and other questions, please contact:
202-394-7005; info@onekoreanetwork.com
Citizens can voice their support for real peace by signing on to the petition at: https://www.votervoice.net/KCPAC/campaigns/88592/respond
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