Medicines for NK Refugees Detained in Thailand
     October 29, 2009:
LFNKR took medicines and other supplies to a local police station in northern Thailand for North Korean refugees being detained there. The rising flood of refugees is stretching official budgets thin.

Who Planned Abduction of 2 US Journalists?
     July 22, 2009:
Many unanswered questions surround the arrest and imprisonment of two female journalists recently. Some suspect the two were victims of political motives, and will be used as bargaining pawns.

Resettling NK Defectors in USA
     July 22, 2009:
This special report provides facts and stats on how many North Korean refugees manage to reach western nations and some of the programs that are in place for integrating them into society.

Panicked Chinese Students Evacuated
     July 22, 2009:
Students and teachers fled school buildings when NK nuclear test caused earthquake-like tremors. Now public sentiment has turned fiercely against their neighbor for causing panic and fear.

Prosecute Kim Jon-il
     July 22, 2009:
Our organization's Kato Hiroshi suggests that filing a lawsuit with ICC (International Criminal Court) could direct the light of public attention onto the dictator's barbarous acts and human rights abuses.

Protesting NK Resident's Organization in Japan
     July 22, 2009:
In an effort to focus greater pressure on North Korea and its regime, a protest was held at the headquarters of the Ass'n. of NK Residents in Japan, a group that acts as defacto NK embassy in Tokyo.

US NGO Report - 'Lives for Sale'
     July 22, 2009:
For the first time, a US-based NGO has published a report on the human trafficking of NK women in China. Asian NGOs have issued such reports, but this is the first from a major western organization.

LFNKR Seeks Closer Ties with UN
     July 22, 2009:
LFNKR has recently begun working to build and deepen ties to the United Nations, since resolving the many human rights issues related to North Korea requires international cooperation.

China Denies Shadow Children National ID
     July 6, 2009:
The number of children in China who have no national identity papers continues to rise. The offspring of NK mothers and Chinese men, they are termed "shadow children"

NK Foster Kids Write "Report Cards"
     July 6, 2009:
It is always a joy when we receive a packet of letters from China written by our North Korean foster children about their school achievements. Grades reveal some truly gifted students.

Financial Crunch Also Hits LFNKR
     May 1, 2009:
North Korean refugees are falling victim to the current worldwide financial crisis. Plunging donations are slashing LFNKR's rescue activities, bringing potential disaster for many of the North Korean refugees now waiting for our help.

Treatment of Repatriated NK Refugees
     April 30, 2009:
In this interview, a 65-year-old North Korean man describes in harrowing detail the hardships and brutal treatment facing refugees after Chinese authorities repatriate them back to North Korea.

Japanese Wives Victimized By Brokers
     April 29, 2009:
The Japan-born wife of a North Korean was arrested in Japan for helping a Chinese couple enter Japan illegally. A Chinese broker reportedly threatened to sell her into slavery to coerce her cooperation.

SK President's Policies Ignore Refugees
     April 29, 2009:
Groups dedicated to North Korean human rights are disappointed by SK President Lee Myung-bak, since his policies toward North Korea have failed to live up to early promises.

Experts Urge Japan - Accept All NK Defectors
     April 29, 2009:
Japan's policy systematically refuses admission to the NK defectors who would have the most useful knowledge of North Korea's inner workings. This prevents the formation of policies based on accurate, real-world information.

First Hints of Free Journalism for North Korea
     April 29, 2009:
Publisher Jiro Ishimaru seeks out and publishes timely information from inside North Korea. His goal, to aid in the healing of that country's current "illness" and a re-uniting with the world community at large.

Seminar on Refugees and Human Rights in Asia
     April 29, 2009:
The Seminar, held in Tokyo, was co-hosted by LFNKR and the Society to Help Returnees to North Korea. Speakers from several other groups also appeared, and wide-ranging discussions involved both representatives and attendees.

UN Receives NK Human Rights Review
     April 21, 2009:
On 20 April 2009, our organization, jointly with Human Rights Without Frontiers, submitted the Universal Periodic Review of North Korea to the UN Human Rights Council. Read the full review here.

Recommendations to Obama Administration
     March 15, 2009:
The president of a major American NGO having strong ties with the US government visited Japan in early March. During the visit, LFNKR met with him to discuss the North Korean refugee issue.

Rumors - China May Recognize Some NK Refugees
     March 15, 2009:
Unofficial hints and rumors coming out of China suggest that the Chinese government may be considering the granting of refugee status to limited numbers of North Korean defectors.

Former Foster Child Visits Benefactor's Grave in Japan
     March 15, 2009:
In mid-January, Song Hyuk, a former resident in one of LFNKR's foster child shelters, now living in South Korea, finally got to visit the grave site of his foster father and to say "thank you."

Part 2 of Kim Chun Gun's Story
     March 15, 2009:
He really just wanted to start and run a yakitori restaurant in Japan, but thanks to miles of bureaucratic red tape, that dream looked forever out of reach. Read the conclusion of Kim's odyssey.

Seminar on Refugees & Human Rights to Be Held in Tokyo
     March 4, 2009:
On Saturday, March 14th, experts, activists and others interested in refugees and human rights in Asia will convene in Tokyo for an international seminar. Those wishing to attend are urged to apply early, since space is limited

Letter Sent to US Secretary of State
     February 16, 2009:
LFNKR has sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton via the American Embassy in Tokyo. Clinton will be making an official state visit to Japan beginning Feb. 16, 2009.

Global Festival in Tokyo Proves Popular
     November 12, 2008:
Tokyo was the site of a global festival celebrating each person's global citizenship. The two day event, which was kicked off on International Cooperation day, attracted nearly 40,000 people each day it was open.

Interview with a Former NK Refugee
     November 12, 2008:
A new regular feature at this website will be interviews with NK refuges who have made it to safety and are now settling into their new homes. The first in this series is a conversation with 26-year-old Kim Chun Gun, who left North Korea 8 years ago to escape the widespread starvation.

Downloadable Brochure You Can Use
     November 12, 2008:
If your friends and colleagues don't quite understand your interest in the North Korean human rights issue, download this PDF brochure, print out copies and hand them around. It briefly tells the story and points them to this website.

Human Rights Seminar in Thailand
     November 12, 2008:
Thailand, a rising influence in the East Asian arena, hosted a seminar recently to discuss the human rights abuses taking place in North Korea. The immediate effect of these abuses is the growing flood of refugees through this country.

Report on LFNKR Activities in FY 2007-2008
     November 12, 2008:
LFNKR continues its efforts to help rescue NK refugees, even as the Chinese authorities step up their draconian measures to arrest and return the refugees to face severe punishment, including summary execution.

American Peace Worker Honored in Seoul
     October 1, 2008:
Suzanne Scholte, president of the Defense Forum Foundation in Washington DC, has long urged the world to look more closely at North Korea's record of human rights abuses. Now she has received recognition for her work.

LFNKR's Kato Addresses Int'l Conference
     September 29, 2008:
Mr. Hiroshi Kato, executive Director of this organization, spoke in Seoul recently to an international gathering of groups devoted to providing aid to North Koreans refugees and focusing world attention on their situation.

NK Spy a Modern-Day 'Mata Hari'
     September 5, 2008:
A 34-year-old North Korean woman was arrested recently by SK police for spying. Also active in other countries, she allegedly attempted to locate NK refugees who have sought refuge in Japan.

Movie 'Crossing' Wins High Praise
     September 5, 2008:
This movie, which took 4 years to complete, tells the true story of refugees flooding out of North Korea seeking survival and freedom. The Korean Film Council has submitted 'Crossing' to 81st Academy Awards for consideration.

Update on NK-China Border Situation
     September 4, 2008:
While North Korean has virtually stopped issuing travel passes into China, authorities in China are arresting hundreds and repatriating them to face harsh reprisals, including prison, beatings and more.

NK Defector Escapes China after 14 Years
     September 4, 2008:
The daughter of a Japanese mother who had immigrated to North Korea escaped into China, then spent 14 years trying to reach Japan. With no help coming from Japanese consulates, she finally receives help from South Korea.

Follow-up Visit with Orphans Held Last Year in Laos
     June 19, 2008:
LFNKR visited two of the three orphan children who were being held last year in a jail in Laos. They are now free and attending school in South Korea and dreaming of the careers they will pursue once they graduate.

Former Foster Child in LFNKR Shelter Now a Mom
     June 19, 2008:
Happy endings really are possible. Last month, a baby girl, named Soe-hee, was born to one of LFNKR's former North Korean orphans who attended our education sponsorship program. The mother is now married and living near Seoul.

Letters from NK Refugee Kids in Hidden Shelters
     June 14, 2008:
Read letters received from foster children currently in first to third grades. These children are being supported in hidden shelters in China under LFNKR’s education sponsorship program.

NK Refugees Tell of Stricter Border Security
     June 14, 2008:
An unwelcome surprise now greets anyone trying to take food from China to North Korea. Security has been stepped up, and guards are now demanding much bigger bribes to allow passage.

Bicycling Campaign Across Europe for NK Rights
     June 9, 2008:
LFNKR is joining the bicycling campaign hosted by the organization " Justice for North Korea." The campaign will publicize in Europe the issue of North Korean human rights violations. Events, performances and demonstrations are planned for many cities in Europe and the UK.

LFNKR's Kato Speaks Out on Government Policies
     June 6, 2008:
Kato Hiroshi, Executive Director of this organization, spoke at Korea Christian University's International Conference on June 2. He discussed Japanese policies toward North Korean refugees and revealed the problems the refugees must deal with when settling in Japan.

U.S. Senator Nixes Ambassador Nominee over NK Human Rights
     May 1, 2008:
U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback has placed a hold on the nomination of Kathleen Stephens as ambassador to South Korea after she failed to answer his questions satisfactorily regarding North Korean human rights violations. Watch this video of Brownback's impassioned Senate speech.

Join the North Korean Freedom Week Events
     April 26, 2008:
North Korean Freedom Week is spreading and growing all around the world. Many new events this year - be sure to check the schedule for activities.

China Raises Bounty on NK Refugees 1600%
     April 10, 2008:
Stories are starting to filter out of China of huge new bounties being paid to citizens for turning in North Korean defectors, or anyone helping them. Authorities now seem so obsessed with "foreign elements" that Christian churches are being summarily shut down for any foreign association.

NK Eyewitnesses Describe Winter Nightmare
     March 26, 2008:
North Korean refugees answer direct questions about the conditions driving them to flee their country. One stated that in the markets, more people are selling than buying because of scarce money. Another suggested that survival without stealing is increasingly difficult.

China Hunting Down Refugees, Aid Workers Ahead of Olympics
     March 26 2008:
Police are exerting increasing pressure on North Korean refugees and the aid workers attempting to help them. China appears intent on scouring the country of any potentially embarrassing elements that could harm its image during the Beijing Olympics later thiis year.

Report on Foster Parent Programme
     March 25, 2008:
LFNKR begain its Foster Parent / Education Programme in 1998. In those ten years, as the children in our care grew into young adults, our organization's mission has necessarily shifted.

Letter to China's Hu on Behalf of 4 NK Prisoners
     March 21, 2008:
You can send a letter like this one to President Hu of China requesting protection of 4 NK prisoners about to be repatriated. Several recent public executions in North Korea suggest that the man and 3 women now in Shenyang Border Patrol Detention Center could face the same fate.

Japan's 2nd Annual NK Human Rights Public Awareness Week
     January 12, 2008:
A week of government-hosted events as well as international conferences and symposiums on the topic of North Korean Human Rights were held in Osaka, Tokyo and Sendai, attracting attendees and representatives from eight nations.

YouTube Video of Washington DC Protest
     December 29, 2007:
Watch this 10-minute video of the protest on November 30th and December 1st 2007. The North Korea Freedom Coalition's worldwide protest was held in 11 countries including the USA. This video shows the protest at the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC.

Hurry-Up Trial in China for NK Activist
     November 24, 2007:
NK Activist Yoo Sang-joon was arrested while trying to help other North Koreans escape from China. Now he is being railroaded with a fast-track trial, apparently to get rid of him before the rest of the world knows what is happening.

Demonstrations Planned to Save North Korean Refugees
     November 20, 2007:
A protest, led by the North Korea Freedom Coalition, is planning demonstrations in front of Chinese embassies and consulates in many nations around the world to protest China's violent treatment of North Korean refugees. Here are the details.

Sample Letter of Protest
     November 20, 2007:
If you wish to send a letter of protest to China's Hu Jintao, you may want to use this sampe as a template. It covers the points of human trafficking, denial of basic human rights to second generation NK children, and China's refusal to admit UNHCR inspectors.

Human Trafficking Victim -- Lee Sun Ja
     November 19, 2007:
"When I was three years old, my parents suddenly disappeared. Nobody knows if they died or if they were sent into a work camp for political prisoners." Thus begins the story of Sun Ja, former street child, escapee to China and human trafficking victim.

Human Trafficking Victim -- Choi Chong-mi
     November 19, 2007:
Young, pregnant, frightened and nearly starving, Chong-mi met a man who helped North Korean women escape to China where there would be work and plenty of food. Once in China, however, this humanitarian sold her for 3,000 RMB.

New Action Plan for Coming Fiscal Year
     November 1, 2007:
A new fiscal year means new plans for expanding our reach. Read our new 9-point plan for reaching and rescuing more North Korean refugees than ever before. A growing threat is human trafficking.

Escapee from North Korea Sold as Slave to a Sex Chat Site
     October 27, 2007:
A young woman and her mother escaped North Korea, only to fall into the hands of human traffickers. First sold to a sex chat site, she was beaten until she performed, then later sold as wife/caretaker of a mentally handicapped man.

Two Former NK Orphans Now Happily Wed
     October 27, 2007:
Some stories do have happy endings. One of our former foster children grew up, reached safety in South Korea, and was enrolled in the refugee resettlement facility. There, she met her future husband. We were delighted last month when they announced their marriage.

Report on LFNKR Activities in FY 2006
     October 27, 2007:
A few years ago, most of the NK children we sheltered were "kochebi," street kids orphaned by the widespread starvation in NK. Now we see a growing number of kids born of sex slave mothers sold to Chinese men.

Appeal to National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
     October 2, 2007:
Attendees at the September 17-21 International Conference in Bangkok issued a joint statement praising Thailand's efforts to help North Korean refugees and urging additional measures to smooth the way for ensuring full human rights to North Koreans seeking freedom.

Int'l Group Censures China for NK Refugee Treatment
     September 13, 2007:
The group's joint statement begins: "Human rights are the most basic and fundamental rights given to man. Over time, the increasing level of human rights given to citizens strongly indicates the progress and vast strides...."

US Lawmakers Call to Boycott Beijing Olympics
     September 13, 2007:
Eight members of the US Congress have introduced legislation calling for a boycott of the Olympics slated to be held in the Chinese capital in 2008. The document cites serious human rights violations by China.

Save North Korean Refugee Flooding Victims
     August 24, 2007:
Floods have now hit North Korea for 10 consecutive years, but this summer's flooding has caused unusually heavy damage in 6 of 9 provinces, which is expected to cause food shortages as serious as those in 1997.

NK Defector Couple Face Death... or Life
     August 15, 2007:
A couple who were taken by their parents to North Korea decades ago are now adults and seeking to get back to the country of their birth. One of LFNKR's local staff members went to Yanbian Prefecture, in China recently to interview the couple....

Japan Needs Refugee Settlement Program ASAP
     August 15, 2007:
Japan was rocked recently when four North Korean defectors sailed into an Aomori port in a seven-meter wooden boat. With the arrival of these four, the spotlight instantly shifted from the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea, and riveted attention on the rapidly growing flow of North Korean refugees.

Outline of North Korean Human Rights Act
     August 15, 2007:
Presents the primary points of the Japanese North Korean Human Rights Act, which takes up the human rights violations committed by North Korea, including abductions, and it calls for increased awareness of North Korean human rights issues as well as the need to deter further human rights abuses.

International Conference on North Korean Human Rights
     August 9, 2007:
Representatives from several nations will meet in Thailand on September 17-21, 2007 to discuss human rights issues for North Korean defectors and refugees.

IPCNKR 4th Annual Conference to Be Held in Seoul
     August 3, 2007:
The International Parliamentarians' Coalition for North Korean Refugees' Human Rights (IPCNKR) will hold their 4th General Meeting in Seoul, Korea during the three days of August 28 (Tuesday) to August 30 (Thursday).

Girl, 17, Tells of Two Years in Sexual Slavery
     June 19, 2007:
Kim Chun Hwa was just 11 when she first came under the protection of our shelter. In 2005, human traffickers seized her, and she spent 2 years as the "wife" of a Chinese man, where she suffered constant abuse by her "husband" and his twin brother.

Interview with Street Beggar - Ambition: to Start a Business
     June 19, 2007:
He was so small he looked like a mere child, but this 26-year-old "kotchebi" (street urchin) in China didn't intend to stay a beggar. His dream - save enough money to re-enter North Korea, start a small business and support his grandmother. Read our man's interview with this "kotchebi."

Letter of Appeal to Prime Minister of Thailand
     April 27, 2007:
Before the recent military takeover in Thailand, North Korean refugees were quickly and humanely allowed to transit to South Korea and freedom. Now that process has slowed to a crawl, and currently 400 sit crowded into a jail built to hold just 50 to 100. This is the letter of appeal that LFNKR sent to the acting prime minister of Thailand.

International Protest Slated for April 28, 2007
     April 27, 2007:
To escape starvation and harsh repression, North Koreans escape to China. But China refuses to acknowledge them as refugees. They are actively hunted down and shipped back "home." Please join the international protest to be held worldwide on April 28th.

Report from a Refugee Who Made It Back
     April 27, 2007:
When Mr. Park was 4 years old, his family moved from Japan to North Korea. But things didn't work out as promised. So in 1999, he fled to China to escape the famine and starvation. In China life was hard, but eventually he met someone from LFNKR who helped him arrange an escape to freedom.

2 Tons of Rice Distributed to Poor in Hamgyong
     April 27, 2007:
An LFNKR local staff member entered North Korea with rice and simple medications for distribution to the extremely needy. He relates his experiences dealing with the poor, and with the authorities along the way.

3 Orphans Freed
     April 24, 2007:
Tuesday, April 24th, the 3 North Korean orphans left their jail cell accompanied by the South Korean consul, who took them to the embassy. Now they are free of the threat of being sent back to North Korea.

North Korea Freedom Week Slated for US Capital this April
     April 19, 2007:
Government leaders, activists, NGOs and many individuals will be in Washington DC the week of April 22 - 27, 2007 for this year's North Korea Freedom Week. Programs will all be focused on the human rights situation in North Korea.

CNN Looks Inside a North Korean Escape Route
     April 19, 2007:
In exclusive footage aired April 15th, CNN's Dan Rivers gives viewers a look inside an 'underground railroad' used by North Koreans hoping to escape to South Korea.

Former NK Orphan Sends Thanks Email in English
     March 27, 2007:
Although Chol Song received the bare minimum of education during his years of hiding in China, now that he is safe in South Korea, he is eagerly studying and making up for lost time. He recently went to Australia for a short, intensive English course.

Abandoned Children in China
     March 26, 2007:
Many North Korean women sold into forced "marriages" bear children, then are arrested by Chinese authorities and repatriated. Their children are often left to fend for themselves. We recently interviewed several of these children about the problems they face in trying to survive on their own.

LFNKR Expands its NK Food Supply Network
     February 15, 2007:
Emergency supplies that were recently distributed to needy North Koreans included one ton of rice, clothing and antibiotics. Total value of items supplied was 300,000 yen (about US$2,500), financed by recent donations.

LFNKR Exhibits at NGO Festival in Osaka, Japan
     February 14, 2007:
At the Festival, LFNKR displayed items from everyday life in North Korea. Staff members were surprised by the amount of interest that visitors expressed in the near-crumbling school textbooks. The books attracted consistently large crowds (click link above for photos).