North Korea Freedom Week 2023 Acknowledgements

20th Annual North Korea Freedom Week
September 17-September 23, 2023
Seoul

NKFW 2023: “Let’s End Kim Jong Un’s Hereditary Dictatorship to Liberate the People of North Korea who are the Slaves of Juche Ideology.”

Dear Friends:

For my opening introduction, Nancy Purcell summed up the 20th North Korea Freedom Week the best, so I am just going to quote her as she has been to nearly every single NKFW since we started this event in 2004 to promote the freedom, human rights, and dignity of the North Korean people. She knows best as an impartial observer, so here’s Nancy: “This year’s NKFW was the best yet, in my opinion. I sensed a new spirit among the North Korea defectors;one of hope, boldness, and courage. They were united in their messaging throughout the week’s events; united among the defectors who have been out of decades and those who escaped just this year. There was unity of purpose and focus as well among the Koreans, Japanese, and Americans. The top purpose and focus are to get information into North Korea by air, land, and sea with promises to spend more time, effort, and money towards that goal. I am excited to see that vision of bombarding North Korea with the truth come to fruition!” I agree with that message! Please enjoy this summary report that Johnny Park prepared for you.

Acta Non Verba,

Suzanne Scholte
Chair, North Korea Freedom Week 2023

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North Korea Freedom Week 2023 Chairs

  • Suzanne Scholte, Chair of the North Korea Freedom Coalition and President of the Defense Forum Foundation
  • Lee Jung-hoon, Chair of Advisory Council on North Korea Human Rights
  • Kim Tae-hoon, President of the North Korea Human Rights Corporation
  • Kim Suk-woo, Chair of the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korea Human Rights
  • Lee Mi-il, Chair of the Korean War Abductees’ Family Union
  • Lim Chang-ho, Chair of the North Korea Human Rights and Democratization
  • Park Sung-young, Chair of the Mulmangcho
  • Lee Young-hee, President of the Esther Prayer Movement
  • Kim Il-ju, Co-President of the South Korean Federation of the Church Elders
  • In Ji-yeon, President of the NANK
  • Nishioka Tsutomu, Chair of the National Council for the Rescue of Japanese Abductees
  • Eiko Kawasaki, Chair of the Korea of All

North Korea Freedom Week 2023 Steering Committee

  • Kang Chul-ho, Senior Pastor at Saeteo Church
  • Kang Chul-hwan, President of the North Korea Strategy Center
  • Kim Seong-min, President of the Free North Korea Radio
  • Kim Jung-ae, Chair of the North Korean Writes in Exile PEN Literature
  • Kim Heung-kwang, President of the NK Intellectual Association
  • Kim Hyung-soo, President of the Stepping Stone
  • Kim Hee-yeon, President of the Association for Global North Korean Defector Women Support
  • Park Sang-hak, President of the Free North Korea Movement
  • Park Jung-oh, President of the Keunsam
  • Huh Kwang-il, Chair of the Committee for the Democratization of North Korea
  • Jang Se-yul, President of the NKPLF
  • Choi Jung-hoon, President of the NK Liberation Front and the Representative of South North Unification Party
  • Ahn Chan-il, President of the International North Korea Research Center
  • Lee Hyang-ran, President of the Unification-Oriented Council
  • Lee Eun-teck, President of the Righteous People
  • Lee Ae-ran, Director of the Free Unification Movement
  • Lee So-ra, Secretary-General of the Korea of All
  • Kim Ji-yeong, Director of the Free North Korea Radio
  • Kim Yoo-jin, Reporter of the Free North Korea Radio
  • Bae Kwang-min, Reporter of the Free North Korea Radio

North Korea Freedom Week 2023 NGOs from Japan

  • Eiko Kawasaki, Chair of the Korea of All
  • Lee So-ra, Secretary-General of the Korea of All
  • Nishioka Tsutomu, Chair of the National Council for the Rescue of Japanese Abductees

North Korea Freedom Week 2023 U.S. Delegation

  • Suzanne Scholte, Executive Chair of the NKFW 2023
  • Johnny Park, U.S. Delegation Coordinator
    Nancy Purcell
  • Lisa Gallo
  • Pam Davidson
  • Esther Kim
  • Richard Kim
  • Kenji Sawai

Sunday, September 17

11 – 12 pm Opening Service for the 20th North Korea Freedom Week
Location: Saeteo Church

Christian Today

North Korea Freedom Week Opening Service organized by Pastor Kang Chul-ho was held at his church, Saeteo Church. Pastor Kang Chul-ho gave his sermon titled, “Liberate North Korea.” Pastor Kang emphasized that we should “continue to pray for North Korea, sacrifice for South Korea, and focus on God, not money.”

Suzanne Scholte talked about three key items that we should focus on during the 20th NKFW—(1) Saving the North Korean refugees who are currently detained in China; (2) ending the enslavement of North Koreans by Kim Jong Un; (3) ramping up the Engagement Campaign (Operation Truth).

Christian Daily

Kim Seong-min of the Free North Korea Radio asked the South Koreans and North Korean escapees to get more involved in the North Korea human rights movement.

Media Coverage:

3 – 4 pm Flower Dedication Ceremony for Freedom Fighters
Location: War Memorial

Yonhap News
Yonhap News
Yonhap News
Yonhap News

At the War Memorial of Korea, NKFC, the Committee for the Democratization of North Korea (CDNK), and the NKPLF dedicated wreaths to the American soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the freedom, human rights, and dignity of the Republic of Korea.

Suzanne highlighted that if the people of North Korea were given the opportunity to participate in the 1948 May 10 election as South Koreans were allowed to do, there never would have been a devastating Korean war.

Huh Kwang-il of the CDNK emphasized that we need to remember those who sacrificed their lives for South Korea’s freedom and must continue to work together to liberate the people of North Korea.

Media Coverage:

7 – 9 pm Gospel Unification Forum
Location: Esther Prayer Movement

Christian Today
Christian Today

Thank you to Professor Lee Yong-hee of the Esther Prayer Movement for hosting Suzanne Scholte again this year to share her testimony with the people of the Esther Prayer Movement. Professor Lee Yong-hee asked the audience to get more involved in the North Korea human rights movement and highlighted the importance of rescuing the North Korean refugees who are currently detained in China.

Suzanne in her testimony talked about what God has done and is doing concerning North Korea and what God is doing through his followers. She shared with the audience her belief that the church is growing in North Korea and that there are secret Christians at every level of society in North Korea citing the 2023 North Korea Human Rights Report published by the Unification Ministry.

Christian Today

Media Coverage:

Monday, September 18

11 – 1 pm Opening Ceremony for the 20th North Korea Freedom Week
Location: Daejeon National Cemetery

The 20th NKFW Opening Ceremony was held at the Daejeon National Cemetery, commemorating the 13th Anniversary of Hwang Jang-yop’s death. Many human rights activists and media reporters participated in the opening ceremony, honoring Hwang Jang-yop’s legacy.

The U.S. delegation arrived at the opening ceremony a little bit late due to Kim Seong-min’s health condition. Even though Kim Seong-min’s police officers were supposed to stay with Kim Seong-min, because they believe in Kim Seong-min and the NKFW so much, they worked it out to take the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremony.

The following individuals raised their voices to commemorate Hwang Jang-yop’s legacy and expressed their commitment to the North Korea human rights movement:

  • NKFW Executive Chair Suzanne Scholte, President of the DFF and Chair of the NKFC
  • Jang Se-yul, President of the NKPLF
  • Kim Il-ju, Co-President of the South Korean Federation of the Church Elders
  • Park Sang-hak, President of the Free North Korea Movement
  • Huh Kwang-il, Chair of the Committee for the Democratization of North Korea
  • Kang Jong-suk, Director of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Office at the Ministry of Unification

*Mr. Kang read Unification Minister Kim Young-ho’s congratulatory message on behalf of the Unification Minister.

During the opening ceremony, the North Korean defector activists asked for support from the South Koreans and North Korean escapees. They emphasized that as long as there is the Kim regime in North Korea, South Korea will be in danger. In her remarks, Suzanne highlighted the fact that Hwang Jang-yop warned when he defected that North Korea would never relinquish its nuclear weapons and that human rights was the Achilles heel of the Kim family.

Media Coverage:

U.S. Department of State Press Release on North Korea Freedom Week: Supporting Human Rights in North Korea

U.S. State Department

Thank you to President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Tony Blinken, and U.S. Special Envoy for North Korea Human Rights Julie Turner for the powerful statement for the 20th North Korea Freedom Week. Thank you for not only raising awareness on the issue of North Korea human rights but also standing with the people of North Korea, including the North Korean refugees who are currently detained in China. Text of US State Department Statement: As we observe the 20th annual North Korea Freedom Week, we recognize the courage of the North Korean defector and human rights community, which continues to speak on behalf of the millions of North Koreans suffering abuses who are unable to advocate for themselves. The DPRK continues to exploit its own citizens, including through mass mobilizations of school children and forced labor, and divert resources that could benefit them to build up its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.

We remain deeply concerned about the plight of North Korean asylum seekers, including some 2,000 North Koreans detained in China who are at risk of repatriation to the DPRK. North Koreans forcibly repatriated are reportedly commonly subjected to torture, arbitrary detention, forced abortion, other forms of gender-based violence, and summary execution.

The international community must act to promote accountability for those responsible for the DPRK’s human rights violations and abuses. Addressing the DPRK’s egregious human rights situation remains a priority for the United States, and we continue to work with the international community to highlight abuses and violations, promote accountability and increase access to independent information into, out of, and within the DPRK.

Media Coverage of the US DoS Statement:

Special Thanks to the U.S. Members of Congress who sent messages to Free North Korea Radio for Seollal and Korean Liberation Day

  • Senator James E. Risch of Idaho
  • Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia
  • Senator Marco Rubio of Florida
  • Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland
  • Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee
  • Senator Ted Cruz of Texas
  • Representative Michael McCaul of Texas
  • Representative Gregory Meeks of New York
  • Representative Ami Bera of California
  • Representative Young Kim of California
  • Representative Michelle Steel of California
  • Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey
  • Representative Rich McCormick of Georgia
  • Representative Mike Lawler of New York
  • Representative Gerry Connolly of Virginia
  • Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee
  • Representative Robert Wittman of Virginia
  • Representative Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida
  • Representative Mark Green of Tennessee

Two examples of messages from Members of Congress broadcast to North Korea on Free North Korea Radio and presented during the North Korea Freedom Week:

7 – 9 pm NKHR Opera
Location: Jeondgond Art Center

Thank you to Pastor Lim Chang-ho of the NKHRD and Culture Sharing Mondo for inviting the U.S. delegation to a North Korea human rights opera, “Yun Dong-ju and the Spider Web of Time.”

The opera featured North Korean defector artists. North Korean defector dancers expressed the pain of the North Korean people, and the singers sang about their homeland.

The opera’s goal was to share the reality of North Korea and the pain of the people in the North.

Tuesday, September 19

10 – 12 pm “Household Ledger” by North Korean Mothers
Location: Center Point

Thank you to the New Korea Women’s Association for hosting a seminar exposing the harsh reality that every North Korean mother confronts in North Korea, trying to feed their family. For instance, an ordinary North Korean worker makes about $1 a month. However, with this, they can’t even purchase 1 kg of rice.

The seminar was joined by 4 North Korean defector panelists—Lee Ji-hye, Kim Yu-jin, Ji Hanna, and Kim Yoo-ah. The four panelists talked about how much they struggled to provide enough food for their family members. They either had to join the market (Jangmadang) or devise creative ways to survive in North Korea. “In North Korea, people in their 20s couldn’t participate in Jangmadang. So, I decided to sell wood in cities. I would get these woods from rural areas. But, to transfer these woods from rural areas to cities, I had to bribe my truck drivers and guards,” said Ms. Kim Yu-jin.

SBS

The panelists stated that 200 renminbi ($30) might barely support a North Korean family of two.

Suzanne, in her congratulatory remarks, praised North Korean mothers, calling them heroes because they saved North Korea from mass starvation.

Media Coverage:

https://n.news.naver.com/article/055/0001091751

11 am – 12 pm Rally against China’s Forced Repatriation of North Korean Refugees
Location: In front of the PRC Embassy

Christian Today

Thank you to Kim Tae-hoon of the North Korea Human Rights Corporation for organizing the rally against China’s forced repatriation of North Korean refugees.

Many private citizens and North Korean and South Korean human rights activists participated in the rally to show their support for the North Korean refugees who are currently detained in China.

Christian Today

“Our ultimate goal is to make sure that the people of North Korea enjoy the same freedom, human rights, and prosperity that the South Koreans have been enjoying. We are here today because about 2,600 North Korean refugees are currently facing imminent danger of being forcibly sent back to North Korea. There are many people who stand with the people of North Korea and for their freedom and human rights.”

Mr. Kim Suk- woo

Media Coverage:

https://www.christiantoday.co.kr/news/356988

2 – 4 pm Accusation on the Forced Repatriation and the Issue of the Japanese Abductees
Location: Center Point

SkyeDaily

Thank you to Eiko Kawasaki of the Korea of All for hosting a seminar to raise awareness on the issue of the Japanese Abductees. Kang Yoon-joo, UNHR High Commission Seoul Office Judicial offer, Eiko Kawasaki, Lee Dong- bok, President of the North Korea Democratization Forum, Lee So-ra, Secretary-General of the Korea of All, and Kim Seung-hyun, President of the Undergraduate Students Association for Unification joined as panelists to talk about the progress on the issue of the Japanese abductees and why the international community needs to pay attention to the issue.

While the panelists were exhorting the international community to get more involved in the issue, they all expressed the need to have more North Korean escapees get involved in the issue as well. “If you don’t look out for your own people, who will?” said Ms. Lee So-ra.

If you don’t look out for your own people, who will?

Ms. Lee So-ra
SkyeDaily

Media Coverage:

https://www.skyedaily.com/news/news_view.html?ID=206534

4 – 4:30 pm Meeting with the President Han Suk-hee of the Institute for National Security Strategy
Location: Dayflower Gwanghwamun

Chosun Ilbo

Thank you to Dr. Kim Dong-Su and President Han Suk-hee for hosting a special meeting for the US delegation. US delegation participants included Esther Kim, Lisa Gallo, Pam Davidson, and Richard Kim and Suzanne. At the meeting, Suzanne criticized the Moon administration for violating South Koreans’ civil liberty and reaffirmed the Americans’ indefatigable support for the people of North Korea.

“Freedom-loving Americans will continue to support the people of North Korea until they all achieve their freedom and God-given rights.”

Suzanne Scholte speaking on behalf of the U.S. Delegation

President Han of the INSS shared with the U.S. delegation the Yoon administration’s strong resolution to improve the issue of North Korea human rights.

“For the first time, the NKHR Center was created at the INSS. This represents President Yoon’s strong will to resolve the issue of NKHR,” said Mr. Han.

President Han, INSS

Media Coverage:

https://www.chosun.com/politics/north_korea/2023/09/20/66VGP4PKNNDG5OFXIENLU4ZTEU/

6 – 7 pm Meeting with Chair Yoo Seung-ok of the Institute for National Security Strategy
Location: INSS

Thank you to Dr. Kim Dong-su and Chair Yoo Seung-ok for hosting a meeting with the U.S. delegation at the INSS headquarters. In addition to Chair Yoo Seung-ok, Dr. Byun Sang-jung, Dr. Kim Kwang-jin, and Vice President Shin Jae- woong attended the meeting from the INSS side.

During the meeting, Suzanne and Chair Yoo reaffirmed the need to continue to closely cooperate on the issue of North Korea human rights. “The cooperation between U.S. and South Korean civil organizations must be strengthened,” said Chair Yoo.

In addition to mentioning rescuing the North Korean refugees in China, ending the slavery of the North Koreans, and ramping up the Engagement Campaign, Suzanne emphasized that the current situation inside North Korea is as bad as the Arduous March, stressing the need to send rice, money, medicine, and radios.

After the meeting, the INSS, as a token of appreciation, hosted dinner and presented gifts to the U.S. delegation.

Wednesday, September 20

10 – 12 pm Testimonies against North Korea’s Nuclear Test by the North Korean Victims from Kilju
Location: Center Point

Naver

Thank you to the North Korean Writes in Exile PEN Literature for organizing a seminar on the topic to shed light on the North Korean victims of North Korea’s nuclear tests. Ambassador Lee Shin-hwa, Ambassador-at-Large on North Korean Human Rights, and Suzanne gave opening remarks which emphasized the importance of exposing North Korea’s brutal human rights violations and encouraged more people to speak out on the issue of North Korea human rights.

“North Korean defectors’ efforts remind us of the importance of human rights and freedom. They are not just any victims, rather, they are the main characters of our North Korea human rights movement. Their community will serve as an important first step toward the unification.”

Ambassador Lee Shin-hwa

Following Ambassador Lee and Suzanne’s remarks, Lee Young-ran, Kim Soon-bok, Nam Kyung-won, and Kim Jung-keum joined as panelists to talk about how the North Korean government sacrificed the people of Kilju at the expense of the country’s nuclear arsenal.

“In Kilju, it’s like living in hell. It’s not a livable area. The land around the nuclear test site is also polluted. You can’t plant anything there. In Kilju, people’s lives are not prioritized.”

Ms. Lee Young-ran
Naver

Media Coverage:

3 – 4 pm Leaflet Launch Site Visit
Location: Gyodong Island

Thank you to Park Sang-hak of the Free North Korea Movement for organizing a leaflet launch site visit. Kim Seong-min of the Free North Korea Radio highlighted the purpose of the site visit which was to show the U.S. and Japanese delegations how the Engagement Campaign has been facilitated and what items they’ve been sending to the people of North Korea.

Park Sang-hak presented a map that shows how the wind currents work around the Korean Peninsula. Also, Park Jung-oh of the Keunsam presented a map that shows how the tidal currents work around the Korean Peninsula.

Kim Seong-min and Park Sang- hak thanked the Americans and Japanese for their unwavering support and expressed their sincere hope to deepen the depth of the current cooperation on the Engagement Campaign. “Until the people of North Korea get liberated, we will never stop our Engagement Campaign activities,” said Mr. Kim and Mr. Park.

Yonhap
Yonhap
Yonhap
Yonhap

Media Coverage:

Thursday, September 21

10 – 12 pm Meeting with North Korean Defector and South Korean Activists
Location: Press Center

Thank you to the North Korea Freedom Week Preparation Committee for hosting a lunch meeting with North Korea human rights activists. At the meeting, the participants shared their work on the issue of North Korea human rights and discussed ways to closely cooperate to improve the human rights of North Koreans.

Also, Kim Seong-min of the Free North Korea Radio presented the Seoul Declaration, which was put together by North Korean defector activists. The Seoul Declaration has four main points— (1) The urgency to rescue the North Korean refugees who are currently detained in China; (2) strengthening sanctions on the individuals who violate the human rights of North Koreans; (3) any humanitarian assistance provided to North Korea must be conditional; (4) and working towards the goal of the peaceful unification.

Seok Dong-hyun, Secretary-General of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, also visited the meeting and expressed his gratitude to North Korea human rights activists for their hard work.

3 – 5 pm Free North Korea Radio Visit
Location: Free North Korea Radio

Thank you to Kim Seong-min of the Free North Korea Radio for inviting the U.S. delegation to the radio station. The three North Korean defector witnesses—Lee Ha-eun, Ji Hanna, and Han Song- mi—who the DFF hosted in D.C. and New York early this year also joined the U.S. delegation at the FNKR.

At the FNKR, FNKR staff and U.S. delegates took thank-you photos for U.S. Members of Congress who sent their 2023 Korean New Year’s and Liberation Day messages to the FNKR.

Friday, September 22

10 – 12 pm Demonstration against China’s Forced Repatriation of North Korean Refugees
Location: In Front of the PRC Embassy

As part of the Save North Korean Refugees Day 2023, the North Korea Freedom Coalition, the NKPLF, and the North Korea Freedom Week Preparation Committee organized a protest in front of the PRC Embassy in Seoul. Approximately, 200 people participated in this year’s protest. For this year’s SNKRD, 43 cities from 14 countries joined us in solidarity worldwide for the North Korean refugees detained in China:

  • Australia, Anthony Boyle—Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
  • Belgium, Voice for Justice and Jubilee Campaign Netherlands—Brussels
  • Canada, Kyung B. Lee—Ottawa, Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver Finland, Mikko Heikkonen—Helsinki
  • Japan, Kato Hiroshi—Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Nagoya, Niigata, Osaka, and Sapporo
  • Malawi, Manda Banda and Jones Chamangwana—Lilongwe
  • Mexico, Joy Ost—Mexico City and Tijuana
  • New Zealand, Anthony Boyle—Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch
  • Nicaragua, Agent A—Managua
  • South Africa, Dr. Gallous Atabongwoung—Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg
  • The Netherlands, Voice for Justice and Jubilee Campaign Netherlands—The Hague and Dutch Caribbean
  • The Republic of Korea, the North Korea Freedom Coalition, the NKPLF, and the North Korea Freedom Week Preparation Committee—Seoul
  • The United Kingdom, CSW—London, Belfast, Edinburgh, and Manchester
  • The United States—Washington DC (Pastor Star Lee, Euni Evensen, and the Esther Prayer Movement), Chicago (Sally Jo Messersmith), LA (Sam Kim and Rand Millar), Sacramento (Maria Cartwright), and New York (Michelle Kim and PSALT)

    At the protest, North Korea human rights advocates, including Suzanne Scholte and Huh Kwang-il, raised their voices to support the North Korean refugees in China, condemn China’s violations of international treaties, and request China to allow the North Korean refugees a safe passage to South Korea.

    “These people (North Korean defectors) who are with us today are freedom fighters. Some of them lost their children or family members on their journey to freedom. We should never stay silent for these people.”

    Mr. Huh Kwang-il

    Also, a letter to President Xi asking him to stop forcibly repatriating North Korean refugees to North Korea was delivered to the PRC Embassy. The photos of North Korea’s gruesome human rights violations were also exhibited at the protest.

    Media Coverage:

    Pastor Star Lee and Euni Evensen organized a successful rally in front of the PRC Embassy in Washington D.C. and 17 people participated in the rally.

    2 – 4 pm Demonstration against Kim Jong Un
    Location: The Constitution Memorial Hall, the National Assembly

    Thank you to Jang Se-yul of the NKPLF and the North Korea Freedom Week Preparation Committee for organizing a rally to condemn Kim Jong Un’s brutal human rights violations. The rally started with presenting the messages from the U.S. Members of Congress, which were originally sent to the Free North Korea Radio for 2023 Seollal and Korean Liberation Day, the U.S. Department of State statement on the 2023 North Korea Freedom Week, and a video footage of North Korea’s public execution.

    Thank you to Anna Yang and Johnny Park of the Defense Forum Foundation for preparing the video.

    Following the presentation, North Korea human rights activists raised their voices to criticize Kim Jong Un and show their support for the people of North Korea. “North Korean defectors are fighting for North Korea’s freedom. We, North Korean defectors, condemn Kim Jong Un who is a murderer of the century,” said Mr. Kang Chul-hwan.

    Also, Jang Se-yul of the NKPLF introduced five people, who participated in the national march for the 2023 North Korea Freedom Week, to the audience. “The liberation of North Koreans will be achieved through North Korean defectors’ activism. Until the two Koreas come together under a liberal democratic system, I will continue to dedicate myself to the movement,” said one of the marchers.

    Media Coverage:

    Chosun Ilbo

    Saturday, September 23

    9 – 1 pm International Forum on One Korea 2023
    Location: Foreign Correspondence Club, Press Center

    Thank you to Kenji Sawai of the Global Peace Foundation for organizing an international forum on the issue of North Korea human rights. The forum’s main objective was to build international consensus on a comprehensive strategy for North Korea by prioritizing the issue of North Korea human rights. The forum explored new solutions through a novel comprehensive approach, including sending information, international law and security, and expanding international support.

    Following Dr. Ryu Jai-poong of the One Korea Foundation, Dr. Ahn Chan-il of the International North Korea Research Center, and Ambassador Lee Shin-hwa’s opening remarks, the U.S. panel session took place. In the session, Suzanne Scholte, David Maxwell of the Global Peace Foundation, Ambassador Morse Tan, and Lee Hyun-seung of the Global Peace Foundation shared the importance of sending outside information to North Korea and the need to hold the Kim regime accountable.

    Suzanne presented one of the water balloons with Kim Jong Un’s face on it, highlighting the fact that North Korean defectors know the most effective way to reach out to their fellow North Koreans in the North.

    Following the U.S. panel session, the Japan session took place. In the session, Eiko Kawasaki of the Korea of All, Lee So-ra of the Korea of All, and Masaki Ikeda of the Classmate Association of Megumi Yokota talked about the issue of Japanese abductees and how the international community can contribute to solving the issue.

    Lastly, Moon Kook-han of the NK Human Rights International Association, Kang Chul-hwan of the North Korea Strategy Center, Attorney Lim Cheol, and Seo In-teck of the Action for Korea United joined as panelists for the Korea session. The panelists emphasized that the international community must focus on rescuing the North Korean refugees in China.

    After the forum, during the lunch session, Ambassador Lee Jung-hoon gave a special lecture on the ways to improve the issue of North Korea human rights.

    1 – 2 pm Sarang Academy Online Lecture
    Location: Zoom

    Thank you to Reverend Yi Ki-won of the Sarang Church Academy for hosting a Zoom lecture on the North Korea human rights issue with Suzanne. Following Suzanne’s lecture, a Q&A session took place. All the participants showed great interest in the North Korea human rights movement, and Suzanne urged more people to get involved in the movement.

    5 – 7 pm The 20th North Korea Freedom Week Closing Ceremony
    Location: Foreign Correspondence Club, Press Center

    Thank you to the North Korea Freedom Week Preparation Committee for organizing the 20th NKFW closing ceremony. At the closing ceremony, because the U.S. delegation wanted to express their gratitude to Kim Seong-min’s police officers for helping the U.S. delegation throughout the week, the U.S. delegation presented special treats, which Nancy and her Korean friends picked out, to the police officers to help them celebrate Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving).

    Suzanne reiterated the freedom-loving Americans’ support for the people of North Korea. Following her remarks, Amb. Lee Jung-hoon, Park Sun-young of the Mulmangcho, Jang Se-yul of the NKPLF, Kim Seong-min of the Free North Korea Radio, and Park Sang-hak of the Free North Korea Movement shared their commitment to liberating the people of North Korea from Kim Jong Un’s dictatorship and their hopes and dreams for the Korean Peninsula.

    “If we can have another conversative administration after the Yoon administration, it might be possible to have our NKFW in Pyongyang soon. I pray that the day would come very soon.”

    Ambassador Lee Jung-hoon

    The U.S. delegation thought that this year’s North Korea Freedom Week was very successful. Nancy Purcell, who is one of the longest participants in the NKFW, shared her opinion.

    “This year’s NKFW was the best yet, in my opinion. I sensed a new spirit among the North Korea defectors; one of hope, boldness, and courage. They were united in their messaging throughout the week’s events; united among the defectors who have been out of decades and those who escaped just this year. There was unity of purpose and focus as well among the Koreans, Japanese, and Americans. The top purpose and focus are to get information into North Korea by air, land, and sea with promises to spend more time, effort, and money towards that goal. I am excited to see that vision of bombarding North Korea with the truth come to fruition”

    Nancy Purcell

    Sunday, September 24

    7 – 9 pm Daejeon Saeronam Church Visit
    Location: Saeronam Church

    Thank you to Pastor Oh Jeong-ho for hosting Suzanne Scholte to share her testimony and vocation with his church. Also, thank you to Pastor Lim Chang-ho of the North Korea Human Rights and Democratization for facilitating the church visit. Saeronam Church showed great support and interest in the North Korea human rights movement.

    As part of the NKFW tradition, North Korean defector activists, Park Sang-hak of the Free North Korea Movement, Park Jung-oh of the Keunsam, and Jang Se-yul of the NKPLF, sent water balloons, rice bottles, and leaflets with other items, including flash drives, to North Korea.

    Media Coverage: