US Department of State is allocated the budget of 9 million dollars for the human rights of North Korean people and promoting democracy in North Korea

US Department of State is allocated a budget of 9 million dollars or the human rights of North Korean people and promoting democracy in North Korea.

In order to support and protect refugees staying in China and Asia from North Korea 3.4 billion dollars (3,432,000,000 dollars) are allocated as well.

I wonder how much budget the South Korean government allocated to protect North Korean refugees.

http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=5078303&ref=A

How will North Korea be able to get vaccines for Covid 19?

North Korea is doing its best to block the border between China and Russia in order to prevent increasing patients suffering from Covid 19.

It sounds reasonable, but blocking the border is only a solution to Covid 19. North Korea is also in need of vaccines for Covid 19.

Even South Korea has difficulty in obtaining vaccines for Covid 19. 

I wonder if they have sufficient masks to protect themselves from Covid 19.

https://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0101_202012260153340795

memorial service for Chester Gore. eldest son of Suzanne Scholte of the defence forum foundation

 got this email today and just passing along.

Suzanne has been an avid advocate for human rights in North Korea since becoming chairman in 1988.

sorry to hear her son passed away recently. here is the email.

Memorial Service for Chester H. Gore

 

There will be a memorial service for Chester Gore, oldest son of Suzanne Scholte and Chadwick Gore and oldest brother of Christian and James, at 1 pm on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at the Falls Church Anglican Church, 6565 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church, VA  22042, to which friends and family are welcome to attend.  There are plans to have it livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.

 

If you would like to participate in person or via livestream, RSVP to chester.memorial@aol.com

 

Because of COVID, those attending in person will be need to follow guidelines (masks and social distancing) etc. that is required at this time.

 

Memorial Contributions in Chester's Memory have been designated to: 

Christian Healing Institute: https://www.christianhealinginstitute.org/

Free North Korea Radio and/or US Western Sahara Foundation (c/o DFF www.defenseforumfoundation.org)

Unity Club https://www.unityclub.com/donate

Coronavirus wreaks havoc in North Korea, 5000 feared dead

  According to news media "Daily NK" organized by North Korean refugees in Seoul, a North Korean was trying to defect to China on April 20th, 2020.
He was discovered and shot by Chinese border guards on his way.
The man was later sent to a hospital in Jilin, China, to be found with infection of Coronavirus.

  Also known as "Covid19", a deadly disease originated from Wuhan (China), the  Coronavirus has infected more than 7 million people in the world (as of June 11).
In USA alone, more than 2 million people were infected. In spite of this, the official Covid-related statistics in North Korea are still rows with straight 0, raising eyebrows of many outside the land.

  Many people speculate that the situation is quite severe.
From the story of the defected man, it's a good guess that a big part of North Korean population has already been infected, with one random person having the virus. Meanwhile, internal sources report that among those isolated due to cough- and fever-related symptoms, around 60% have recovered and 35% died during isolation.

  The reason behind the severeness may be attributed to poverty and lack of medical supplies. North Korea faces a severe shortage of medical personnel, medicine, device, infrastructure and solution for the virus new to human kind. According to "Daily NK", patients with severe illness were treated with medicine for normal cold and tuberculosis, which seemed to have no effects.

  A UN report pointed out that as high as 43% of population (around 11 million people) in North Korea suffer from malnutrition. Moreover, there is also shortage of clean water supply. If the current situation persists, with no effective measures taken, the country may suffer from harsh conditions.

  

Schools in North Korea reopened in June 3rd.

All students can be seen wearing masks, albeit no "social distancing".

Join our Webinair to discuss the human rights of North Korean women on March 10th

got this in my inbox just now so passing along

Dear Friends:

As promised, I am following up to let you know that NKFC Vice Chair Jason West has set up an online webinair for us, so that our planned panel at the UN Commission on the Status of Women can go forward. 

The online webinar will be held tomorrow night March 10th at 6:15 pm and everyone is invited to join.  

You can find all details here for how to join this event online at this link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/25-years-of-repression-and-regression-for-north-korean-women-tickets-96724211721

Many thanks and blessings,

Suzanne

Suzanne Scholte

Seoul Peace Prize Laureate

President, Defense Forum Foundation

Chair, North Korea Freedom Coalition

www.defenseforumfoundation.org

www.nkfreedom.org

Former North Korean diplomat is running for Korean Congressman

Thae Yong Ho is a former North Korean diplomat in the United Kingdom. He defected with his family to South Korea and now he is running as a candidate for the Korean Congress.
I hope he will make laws to support more efficiently refugees from North Korea.

https://www.fnnews.com/news/202002272144219549

North Korea postponed the opening day of kindergarten and schools to prevent Corona Virus

North Korea postponed the opening day of kindergarten and schools as well as extended the winder vacation.
It is a good way to quarantine the carriers of Corona Virus to other young students.
Does North Korea have enough doctors, nurses, medicine, and masks?


http://www.naeil.com/news_view/?id_art=341920

North Korea is reporting no corona virus cases...

but this has to be false.

as we know, N.K. regularly trades right next door to China with people going back and forth all the time.

there must be lots of infected individuals and they are especially vulnerable due to the general population being malnourished and probably overworked.
the immune system in most will be weak and are therefore more at risk of catching it.
also, their medical system is most likely woefully unable to treat mass infections.

this is out of asiapress late last month

http://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2020/01/recommendations/coronavirus/

this is an interview with a reporting partner inside north korea. also out of asiapress.

http://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2020/02/recommendations/coronavirus-int/

the DailyNK is reporting that domestic travel is being more strictly controlled that usual.

https://www.dailynk.com/english/north-korea-further-strengthens-restrictions-domestic-travel/

so with the sanctions and now this, the north Koreans are in a world of hurt.

March 3 2020
DailyNK reports that over 20 deaths due to corona virus but there is probably more than that.

https://www.dailynk.com/english/novel-coronavirus-killed-20-plus-north-koreans-sources/

this is an older post from asiapress stating that smugglers who are known to have crossed the border into china have been shot and cremated.
they are handling things the way china does

http://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2020/02/society-economy/smuggling-military-law/