robbery and murder becoming more common because of desperation due to sanctions..

another article from DailyNK

https://www.dailynk.com/english/residents-concerned-over-rise-in-violent-crime-in-north-korea/

North Korea doesn't care about Human Rights of other countries, either

  We know about the dire human rights situation in NK.
And situations like NK is not alone, although the causes are all similar.
China's persecution of political dissidents and religious groups, Pakistan's intolerance toward non-Muslims, or Syrian regime's brutality toward children are all to be condemned. But like NK, Iran (after the establishment of Islamic regime in 1979) also has the highest record of Human Rights abuses.

Iran claims to ensure religious rights, but Bahai faith is banned, and Bahais aren't allowed to enter universities. Other religious members other than Shia Islam also face limitations;
Iran claims to ensure rights for people to protest peacefully, but many of them who participate in protests and strikes are arrested, imprisoned and died;
Iran claims to ensure women's rights, but all women, including foreign visitors, must wear hijab (Islamic veil) in public. Those who disobey face fines and arrests;
Iran claims to ensure Human Rights, but never care about ethnic minorities and gender minorities. Similar to NK, executions and floggings are performed in public, while not allowing kissing and couples holding hands.

The cause, a totalitarian regime, and the situation, is very similar to NK, where no religious rights, dissident's rights, women rights and any kind of minority rights is ensured. And what is NK's attitude toward this?

The picture below was the resolution toward Iran's Human Rights last year (and this year they voted again recently, with same results).
Who voted "against" the punishment and solutions toward this (red)?
We are not surprised to find that those who condone Iran's abuses are countries with the same degree of crime toward Human Rights.
Besides NK, there're Central Asian countries, Islamic countries and Communist/Socialist countries. And interestingly, many countries among these maintain good ties. (E.g. NK have good ties with Iran, China, Russia etc.)

Similar to the solution toward NK, USA and some other countries are sanctioning Iran. But the most effective way, is to sanction the INDIVIDUALs that have been or continues to pose a severe threat toward Human Rights, such as some high-ranking government officials.
In this way, people won't be affected by the economic shortage and can get rid of the tyrants.

Rason special economic zone like a ghost town

article from DailyNK
because of the sanctions, no one is willing to invest in this area.
the pictures tell the story

https://www.dailynk.com/english/photos-of-north-korea-special-economic-zone-reveal-impact-of-sanctions/

Chinese product wholesale area of Rason. Image: Daily NK

Apartment complex in Rason. Housing prices in the area have doubled since early 2018. Image: Daily NK

Residential and commercial complex. The building on the left was intended for foreign renters but is mostly vacant. Image: Daily NK

Exterior of Rason Market. Image: Daily NK

typhoid fever is back in the North...

short article out of asiapress reporting a typhoid outbreak in Hoeryong City in the far northeast.

several people have did as a result and probably more to come.

http://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2018/12/society-economy/typhoid-fever-outbreak/

tickets for Voices of North Korean Refugees event on sale...

just got an email stating that the event is happening and tickets are on sale for a very reasonable $20

so if you are in the Boston area, stop by Cambridge on saturday, january, 19, 2019

 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voices-of-north-korean-refugees-stranger-tickets-52607324925?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

Japan finds more wrecked and dead north Korean fishermen off its coast..

an article from the rimjingang / asiapress site.

it's obvious the fishermen are desperate or being pushed or both otherwise they would not venture so far out.

http://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2018/12/recommendations/2018-drifting-boats/

ridiculous Samjiyeon deadline by Kim is stressing everyone out

these reports are from Rimjingang / AsiaPress.

they also do a great job of keeping the world informed about the goings on in North Korea.

they have posted quite a bit about the Samjiyeon tourist economic zone

http://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2018/11/recommendations/party-executives-recruit/

http://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2018/11/news/samjiyeon-derailment/

http://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2018/11/recommendations/power-supply-samjiyeon/

 

http://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2018/11/news/indulgence/ 

fortune tellers and drug users shamed at a public rally

this is a report from rimjingang (asiapress). their updates are slow but they are a good source for goings on inside North Korea also.
Rimjingang is another excellent source for North Korea.

i feel bad for these people who were singled out.
the fortune tellers are really doing nothing wrong and the drug users need help instead of a labor camp.

anyway here is the story

http://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2018/10/recommendations/fortune-telling-drug-use/

Firewood ban means a cold winter for the average North Korean

this report from the DailyNK states that because of Kim Jong-Un's reforestation program, there is a ban on selling firewood which means those that rely on it to keep warm this coming winter will have a hard time.

the reforestation is good and necessary however as usual no contigency for the little guy.

https://www.dailynk.com/english/north-koreans-face-bitter-cold-with-firewood-ban/

here's another report from DailyNK about the fisherman risking their lives because of fishing quotas set by the government.

so the regime sells fishing rights to the Chinese with their big trawlers while the little guy is forced further out to sea in unseaworthy craft.

the sanctions are still hurting the regime and everyone is being pushed to generate revenue for the government.

the Samjiyeon tourist railway project is another example of how they are getting stressed.

 https://www.dailynk.com/english/north-korean-fishermen-risking-lives-to-meet-fishing-quotas/

new documentary from Liberty in North Korea. The Jangmadang Generation

just got a notification by email about this 
on the ground footage in North Korea too.

you can view it at this url

https://www.nkmillennials.com/?_ke=eyJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJtYXJrLnNsZWV0QHRlcmFkeW5lLmNvbSIsICJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIm16UDREZSJ9

Update from Emancipate North Koreans Empower House

just recieved this in my mail so just passing along

ENoK are a North Korean help group based in Chicago and there is one person who is looking into starting one in the Boston area maybe in the near future.
She organized the Voices of North Korean Refugees event earlier this year which i attended and thought she did a great job.
she is organizing another one early next year as well.
hopefully Grace or Jinhye can attend.

here is the site again
http://enok.org/

united states and allies gearing up to disrupt North Korea oil transfers

the article dosn't state how they are going to disrupt but it points out that it will piss Russia and China off a bit more with the United States and it's not easing tensions with North Korea either.

http://www.targetliberty.com/2018/09/us-to-start-disrupting-north-korean-oil.html

NKinUSA rescue updates..

NKinUSA just posted some good results from their rescue work.

several North Koreans have made it safely to Thailand thanks to the help and contacts from the NKinUSA group.

NKinUSA is worth supporting because you know they are doing what their mission is to do.

https://www.nkinusa.org/updates/2018/08/rescue-updates-summer-2018/

NKinUSA helps rescue North Korean refugees from China and Southeast Asia.

Most of North Korean refugees escape from North Korea via China and Southeast Asia including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.

NKinUSA (North Korean Refugees in the United States) helps rescue North Korean refugees hiding in China and Southeast Asia. We partner with local individuals to facilitate and secure safe passage for refugees to a desired third country, such as the U.S. or South Korea.

The refugee rescue program of NKinUSA provides

(1) basic needs such as food and clothing,
(2) transportation,
(3) accommodations, and
(4) expenses during escape such as fines and fees.

All these services are provided to North Korean refugees at no cost.

Save North Korean Refugees Day on September 24th

just passing along...

ACTION ITEM:
Save North Korean Refugees Day on Monday, September 24th

China’s policy of forcible repatriation is a death sentence for North Koreans

The North Korea Freedom Coalition is once again organizing the annual Save North Korean Refugees Day to focus attention on the ongoing critical crisis facing North Korean Refugees in China.  This year’s Save North Korea Refugees Day will be held on September 24, 2018 to mark the 36th anniversary of when China became a signatory to the refugee convention, the very agreement it is violating when it forces men, women and children back to North Korea against their will.

Background: The China/North Korea border is one of the most dangerous borders in the world.  Yet, little information is being reported about this tragic situation.  Since Kim Jong Un came to power he and Xi Jinping have worked aggressively to close the border to stop North Koreans from escaping to South Korea and other countries.  Over eighty percent of North Koreans, who flee persecution and deprivation in their homeland, carry poison in order to kill themselves if they are caught by Chinese authorities.  They would rather die than be forced back to North Korea where they will be subjected to certain torture, certain imprisonment and even execution for fleeing North Korea. Over eighty percent of North Korea females are subjected to human trafficking because of China’s policy.

What the Chinese authorities are doing is inhumane, barbaric and illegal.  It is a violation of international law as China is a signatory to the refugee convention which obligates it not to repatriate these refugees.  The People’s Republic of China signed the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol on September 24, 1982.

If China simply honored its international treaty obligations, the situation could be resolved overnight as North Korea refugees are unique: they are the only refugees in the world eligible for immediate resettlement as they already have citizenship in South Korea under Articles 2 and 3 of the Republic of Korea Constitution. In addition to South Korea and many other countries have willingly resettled North Korean refugees.

China’s policy of forcible repatriation is a death sentence for North Koreans.

Action You Can Take: The NKFC is simply asking its partners and friends around the world to deliver a letter of appeal to Chinese President Xi Jinping to stop repatriating refugees on the same date in solidarity: Monday, September 24 to the Chinese consulate or embassy in their city.  A template letter is available for use or coordinators can prepare their own letter of appeal from their respective NGO.

Some cities are also planning special events from conferences to protests from prayer vigils to movie screenings – all focused to raise awareness of the situation facing innocent men, women and children who are fleeing persecution and deprivation in North Korea.

Please do not remain silent for those being led away to death.  If you can deliver a letter or take action in solidarity to raise awareness of this issue, please email NKFC Chair, Suzanne Scholte, at Suzanne@defenseforumfoundation.org

FYI: This is the link from last year's Save North Korean Refugees Day report as a reference: http://bit.ly/2yEg3x2

www.nkfreedom.org

Suzanne Scholte
Seoul Peace Prize Laureate
President, Defense Forum Foundation
Chair, North Korea Freedom Coalition
www.defenseforumfoundation.org
www.nkfreedom.org_______________________________________________

another article from dailyNK citing the moral devolution due to the haves and have nots..

as the North Korean market economy grows, so does the gap between rich and poor.
this gap causes resentment and jealousy in any society and the donju are prime targets now.

https://www.dailynk.com/english/north-korean-authorities-call-for-vigilance-against-government-imposters/

North Koreans under stress again for the 70th anniversary of North Korea

https://www.dailynk.com/english/ordinary-north-koreans-indifferent-to-founding-anniversary-fanfare/

reading from the article, it looks like this event means money to the NK regime because it attracts foreign money but it puts the average north Korean under stress. this includes little kids as well who should be out playing and learning about their world instead of being stuck in a regimented schedule for months.

TV Program for stories of North Korean refugees

You can watch the stories of North Korean refugees through Korean TV whose title is "Now on my way to meet you".
You can hear the real stories and experiences about lives in North Korea from North Korean refugees.

The third meeting with Kim Jong Un will be held at Pyongyang

The third meeting with Kim Jong Un will be held at Pyongyang.
The meeting will be focused on the denuclearization in North Korea.
North Korea should get rid of all the nuclear weapons before they ask the USA to declare end of Korean War.

http://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0101_201809062248358655

north Korean shipwrecks on Japans west coast continuing

DailyNK put out another recent article regarding the north Korean fisherman getting wrecked due to unseaworthy boats, crowded boats and boats that are too small.
they are talking to Japanese fishermen who know what they are talking about
good article.

https://www.dailynk.com/english/photos-north-korean-shipwrecks-in-ishikawa-prefecture-disturb-locals/