Concerted efforts by the international community is a must to put an end to North Korea′s
extreme human rights violations...
but individuals and rights groups CAN make a great difference as well.
How are those in South Korea doing their part in addressing the brutalities happening just
north of the border？
Our News Feature tonight with Lee Ji－won.
In June of this year， the United Nations opened a new Human Rights Office in Seoul
to monitor the human rights situation in North Korea.
Furthermore， the third committee of the UN General Assembly passed last month a resolution
on such issue in an overwhelming vote of 112 to 19.
These two landmark events this year alone have further underlined an undeniable truth：
the human rights situation in North Korea is not only in the world′s radar， but
also a pressing global agenda.
″Last year in February， the UN Commission of Inquiry published a report on North Korea’s
human rights violations.
These violations were systematic， extensive and serious and they have been ongoing for
decades.
The situation in the North is no different than the Nazi’s brutality which claimed
the lives of 6 million Jews， or that of Cambodia’s Pol Pot of Khmer Rouge， which
killed 2 million.″
Efforts in South Korea are also seen in both governmental and civilian levels.
According to Seoul′s Ministry of Unification， there are currently 60 Non－Governmental
Organizations registered with the government working on improving North Korea’s human
rights situation.
Such NGO is the Citizens′ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights， a group credited of
introducing the human rights issue for the first time to the world in the 1990s.
″We first started campaigning on the issue in South Korea.
But people were very reluctant to talk about North Korean issues as many considered them
to be very political.
So we thought maybe if the international society underlines the situation first， then South
Koreans could also see the problem as it is， a human rights issue.
So we held global campaign activities which raised awareness both internationally and
domestically.″
NKHR seeks other international NGOs and governments to support this cause， and it tries to further
make the issue known to the world by means of exhibitions and cultural events.
But how serious is the issue？
We met a North Korean defector who now works as a painter， conveying his message through
his works.
Just 10 years ago， Song Byeok used to draw propaganda posters in North Korea.
″The most basic and important need of a human being， is food.
But North Korea does not allow that.
To feed our family， my father and I tried to get it from China.
But while crossing the Tumen river， my father drifted away and died and I was caught and
taken to a prison camp.
It was there that I saw the reality of North Korea.
North Korea has no such thing as ′individual′s dignity′.
Many people died in the camp... and I really envied them.
I wished I could die fast and live an