Eunju Kim, who escape starvation in North Korea in 1999, only to be sent back and flee a second time, have told the United Nations that the country’s leader must be held accountable for gross human rights violations. Gyuri Kang, whose family face persecution for her grandmother’s religious beliefs, flee the North during the Covid-19 pandemic. She told the General Assembly on Tuesday that three of her friends were executed – two for watch South Korean TV dramas. At the high-level meeting of the 193-member world body, the two women, both now live in South Korea, describe the plight of North Koreans who UN special investigator Elizabeth Salmón say have be living in “absolute isolation” since the pandemic begin in early 2020. Thousands of North Koreans have flee the country since the late 1990s, but the numbers have dwindle drastically in recent years. Salmón say North Korea’s close of its borders worsen an already dire human rights situation, with new laws enact since 2020 and strict punishments, include the death penalty and public executions. Watchtowers are see along the border between North and South Korea from Paju, 35km north of Seoul. Photo: AFP In another rights issue, she say, the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine have raise concerns about “the poor human rights conditions of its soldiers while in service, and the government’s widespread exploitation of its own people.”
North Korean Defectors Speak Out
Eunju Kim and Gyuri Kang, two courageous women who have escape oppression in North Korea, share their harrowing stories at the United Nations. Eunju Kim, who survive starvation and flee her country twice, demand accountability for the leader’s human rights violations. Gyuri Kang, whose family suffer persecution due to religious beliefs, escape during the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing the execution of her friends for watching South Korean TV dramas. These women, now residing in South Korea, shed light on the struggles faced by North Koreans in isolation since the pandemic’s onset in early 2020, as described by UN special investigator Elizabeth Salmón. Despite thousands fleeing North Korea since the late 1990s, recent years have seen a drastic decrease in numbers, with Salmón attributing this to the country’s tightened borders exacerbating an already dire human rights situation through new laws and harsher punishments, including public executions and the death penalty.
Challenges and Concerns
The deployment of North Korean troops to aid Russia in its conflict with Ukraine raises further alarms about the treatment of soldiers and exploitation of citizens by the government. The presence of watchtowers along the border between North and South Korea serves as a stark reminder of the division and surveillance in the region. Salmón’s observations highlight the pressing need for international attention and action to address the human rights violations occurring within North Korea. The testimonies of Eunju Kim and Gyuri Kang provide a glimpse into the struggles faced by defectors and the ongoing challenges within the country. As the world watches these developments unfold, it becomes evident that the plight of North Koreans demands urgent intervention and advocacy on a global scale.
In the midst of geopolitical tensions and human rights abuses, the voices of defectors like Eunju Kim and Gyuri Kang serve as powerful reminders of the resilience and determination of the North Korean people. The international community must not turn a blind eye to the atrocities being committed and must work towards holding the country’s leadership accountable for their actions. As Eunju Kim and Gyuri Kang continue to speak out and share their stories, their bravery shines a light on the ongoing struggles faced by their fellow North Koreans. It is essential that their voices are heard and that concrete steps are taken to address the human rights crisis within North Korea. Only through collective efforts and unwavering advocacy can meaningful change be achieved for the people of North Korea.
