There can be no peace without human rights. We must remind everyone that there is no peace devoid of human rights. If global citizens want peace and prevent any future threat to their peace, they should be engaged with this human rights issue.

North Korea, or the so-called Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), remains one of the most repressive countries in the world. A 2014 United Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) report found that the North Korean government committed systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations that constitute crimes against humanity (Human Rights Watch).

We interviewed American student Jasmine and formal North Korean defector student Hyeok with same questions. And these are the answers we got. The questions are directly brainstormed and written by formal North Korean defectors.

This is the report our member Dan Choi presented for the U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom on behalf of North Koreans. By sharing his personal experience in N.Korea, Dan testified how North Korean institutions oppress people’s freedom and religion.

North Koreans develop dual identities of physical membership and ideological membership. As a part of the same ideological community, I had to be censured by the guidance officer. All North Koreans are thus oppressed in matters both practical and ideological, and possess no freedom in both matters. 

We interviewed American student Connor and formal North Korean defector student Yeon with same questions. And these are the answers we got. The questions are directly brainstormed and written by formal North Korean defectors.

“How can the children become the king of the country while there are so many of them on the street just ragged and starving all four seasons? Why does television say "Children are the king of the country" when, in reality, adults neglect and set aside countless children?”

“Freedom is something that exists for sure. I think.. freedom.. is my ability to refuse or accept anything or anyone. Actually, I will take that back. I am not really sure.”

“The young man decided to take his own life before he gets sent back to the deadly land. He ate a piece of steel, wishing to die, but even ending his own life was not his freedom to choose.”

“Teacher, maintaining silence for a while, finally opened his mouth to say “All of you must go home since our great leader Kim passed away this morning.”… I turned my head and saw one friend sobbing with his head down on the desk, and another one was raging, punching the desk really hard. “