The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea

Will South Korea expel the US? (Fox News, 03/16/2025) Prosecutors released South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol from custody Saturday after deciding not to appeal a decision by the Seoul Central District Court to free him. Greg Scarlatoiu, President and CEO of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK), stated that the impeachment of the president and acting president was an attempt to undermine "checks and balances and the very fabric of democracy." David Maxwell of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Asia Pacific Strategy said that, "When the National Assembly voted to not approve martial law, he respected the vote and withdrew the martial law order. This demonstrated that he puts the rule of law for the nation ahead of any other intent." (Gordon G. Chang, Fox News) https://lnkd.in/djv5tWR5

Rights groups urge Zelenskyy to send N. Korean POWs to South Korea (The Korea Times, 03/12/2025) Human rights activists in South Korea and overseas on Tuesday, including the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, urged Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to send North Korean prisoners to war (POW) to the South, saying it would not only be the right thing to do but would also help Ukraine's war efforts against Russia. (Jung Min-ho, The Korea Times) https://lnkd.in/gCcB8Dtq

Former North Korean Soldier Turned Human Rights Advocate Fears Loss of US Support (Ethnic Media Services, 03/07/2025) At a March 3 event at Emory University, retired US Army Colonel David Maxwell emphasized the need for a human rights-focused policy, warning that North Korean soldiers, deeply indoctrinated yet hungry for outside information, are being used as pawns in Pyongyang’s deal with Moscow, while concerns grow that the US, under Trump, may weaken support for Ukraine and South Korea, potentially easing pressure on Kim Jong Un’s regime. “We need a human rights focused policy,” said Maxwell, vice president at the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy with the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. “As the United States, we must support the Korean people in their quest for unification,” he added. (Jongwon Lee, Ethnic Media Services) Click the link to view the full text: https://lnkd.in/gFsvXF3z

On International Women’s Day, North Korean women must not be forgotten. They live under one of the world’s most repressive regimes, facing daily hardships and systemic discrimination. Yet they continue to persevere, carrying the hopes of their families and communities on their shoulders. We celebrate the extraordinary courage and resilience of North Korean women. From enduring chronic food shortages and economic challenges to navigating political restrictions and gender-based violence, they show remarkable strength. Their stories are a testament to the human spirit’s power, even in the harshest of circumstances. HRNK calls on the North Korean regime to uphold the rights of all women. Ongoing abuses—sexual violence, political persecution, and the denial of fundamental freedoms—demand urgent attention. We urge Pyongyang to comply with international standards, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Empowering North Korean women is essential to meaningful human rights progress. Their voices, leadership, and activism are key to dismantling oppression and paving the way for a future grounded in dignity and equality. Today and every day, HRNK stands in solidarity with North Korean women, amplifying their voices and advocating for lasting change. Greg Scarlatoiu President & CEO, HRNK #HumanRights #WomensRightsAreHumanRights #NorthKorea #HRNK #FreedomForWomen #IWD2025 #BreakTheSilence #StandWithWomen #EndOppression #HRNK4Justice

Human Rights Experts: 'North Korean POWs Should Be Accepted into South Korea … They Are Victims of Human Rights Violations' (VOA, 03/05/2025) American human rights experts have emphasized that North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces should have their asylum requests to South Korea fully honored. Greg Scarlatoiu, President and CEO of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK), stated in a phone interview with VOA on the 19th that regarding the treatment of North Korean prisoners of war: "If they wish to return to North Korea, where their families and homeland are, they should be repatriated. However, if that is not the case, the door should remain open." (An Junho, VOA) https://lnkd.in/gvG9Cnur *This article has been translated from Korean. You can subscribe to HRNK's newsletter for English-translated versions of articles or videos at our website: https://www.hrnk.org/.

Shen Yun Shines a Light on What CCP Tries to Hide, Says Human Rights Advocate (The Epoch Times, 02/25/2024) Greg Scarlatoiu, president and CEO of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, saw a different vision of China in Shen Yun Performing Arts. “It’s pre-communist China. It’s ancient China. It’s a China of thousands and thousands of years. So, it’s a different version that’s viewed as a threat by the CCP,” Mr. Scarlatoiu said after seeing the performance for the first time at the Kennedy Center on Feb. 25. (Frank Liang, Catherine Yang, The Epoch Times) https://lnkd.in/g7-bnqVy

New Residential Complex Built on the Site of North Korea’s Former Yodok Prison Camp… Repurposed for Civilian Use (Radio Free Asia, 02/24/2025) Satellite images have captured the demolition of remaining guard posts and security facilities at North Korea’s Yodok Political Prison Camp (Camp No. 15), which was reportedly shut down after partial dismantling began in 2014. Greg Scarlatoiu, the President and CEO of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK), states that "Several political prison camps in North Korea are either being dismantled or downsized," emphasizing the importance of monitoring the relocation of detainees during this process. (Seo Hyejun, Radio Free Asia) https://lnkd.in/giKTkxqu *This article has been translated from Korean. You can subscribe to HRNK's newsletter for English-translated versions of articles or videos at our website: https://www.hrnk.org/. #?? #??? #??? #??

HRNK President Greg Scarlatoiu points out that the tide of public opinion has been turning in President Yoon's favor. People are not interested in Levantine politics. South Koreans want a good economy, higher employment, lower real estate prices, and national security. Impeached, cornered, and imprisoned, Yoon is beginning to look like the anti-establishment candidate. His approval rating stands at 51 percent, and he may escape impeachment. The insurection charges are exaggerated, as Yoon complied with the decision of 190 out of 300 members of the National Assembly to take down the martial law, six hours after he instated it. Any legal decision by the Constitutional Court of Justice of the Republic of Korea, just like any other court, is not exclusively legal, but also ethical, moral, and political, and the rising tide of public approval for Yoon may play an important role in his escaping impeachment and resuming his presidential mandate. https://lnkd.in/gr5fz8xQ #southkorea #yoonseokyeol #impeachment #HRNK #thejohnbatchelorshow #gordongchang

North Korean Workers Forced to Work on Chinese Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels (VOA, 02/25/2025) Testimonies reveal that North Korean workers dispatched to Chinese deep-sea fishing vessels have been subjected to forced labor for years, unable to contact their families. Human rights experts point out that North Korea exploits this forced labor to fund its nuclear and missile development. Greg Scarlatoiu, President and CEO of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, emphasized that “The international community, along with judicial and intelligence agencies in various countries and labor-monitoring organizations, must track forced labor on these vessels. Imports of goods produced through forced labor should be restricted, and forced laborers must be given opportunities to migrate elsewhere.” (Ann Jun-ho, VOA) https://lnkd.in/gPpCCx3N *This article has been translated from Korean. You can subscribe to HRNK's newsletter for English-translated versions of articles or videos at our website: https://www.hrnk.org/.

"Purge of Local Officials in North Korea: Scapegoats for Regional Economic Failures" (Radio Free Asia, 02/19/2025) North Korean Workers' Party General Secretary Kim Jong-un convened an expanded meeting of the Party’s Central Committee Secretariat, where he strongly denounced the corrupt practices of local officials with rumors of executions taking place. Greg Scarlatoiu, President and CEO of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK), stated that this latest purge differs from those carried out in the early years of Kim Jong-un’s rule. (Jeong Yeong, Radio Free Asia) https://lnkd.in/g98JQ9k9 *This article has been translated from Korean. You can subscribe to HRNK's newsletter for English-translated versions of articles or videos at our website: https://www.hrnk.org/.