A group of young North Korean defectors unveiled a declaration Monday to promote “dignity,” “hope,” “freedom” for those living in the reclusive country as it stressed their steadfast commitment to enhancing North Korean human rights as the “voice for the voiceless.”
The group announced their vision statement as the National Endowment for Democracy, South Korea’s unification ministry and Human Asia jointly held an international event designed to shine a light on North Korean human rights situations.
“Dignity matters. Freedom matters. Hope matters,” the group said in a statement read out by Lee Sung-ju, a group member, during the event, titled “Preparing for a democratic future of North Korea: Next generation leadership.”
“As people who have recently attained freedom, we are the voice for the voiceless and commit to advance North Korean human rights. This commitment enables us to mobilize and be the hope for North Korean human rights,” it added.
The three keywords — dignity, hope and freedom — were key reasons why the young defectors left the North, a country known for its social oppression and chronic economic hardships that have shown no signs of easing amid Pyongyang’s dogged pursuit of nuclear and missile programs.
Comprised of people in various fields, including business, journalism and music, the defectors’ group itself appears to serve 한국을 as a message of hope for the young generations in the North and a warning for the North Korean regime.
The declaration called for a series of concrete actions, including ensuring North Korean rights issues are supported “irrespective of political agendas,” cultivating human rights activists and devising measures to empower people in North Korea.
Pointing to the group members’ dreams, Lee stressed that having such dreams in North Korea is “impossible.”
“What is the essence (difference) between dictatorship and a free country? You can have your own dream in a free country,” he said.
“We were taught that the U.S. was our sworn enemy. But we are standing in the U.S. now and announcing our vision statement in the heart of our sworn enemy. Can you imagine that?”
