This is an international call to protest on December 9th, 2011, 63rd anniversary of the United Nations Genocide Convention which North Korea is violating in every possible way (For more information, please see “North Korea and the Genocide Convention”:http://hir.harvard.edu/north-korea-and-the-genocide-movement).

Please organize protests and hunger strikes in front of DPRK/PRC/UN offices (or other location), and let us know about your demonstration at connect@stopnkgenocide.com.

Confirmed Protests So Far:

New York City, United States
12:00pm: Grand Army Plaza in Manhattan , silent march to DPRK Mission to the UN
1:00pm: Demonstration at DPRK Mission to the UN
Speech by North Korean Defector Activist Ji Seong Ho (President of NAUH)
Event Coordinator: cbk2004@gmail.com
For Interviews, contact: iptbak@gmail.com

Seoul, Republic of Korea
3:00pm ~ 4:00pm : Demonstration at Seoul Station Plaza
4:00pm ~ 5:00pm: March to UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees)
7:30pm ~ 8:30pm: Candlelight rally in Seoul Plaza
Event Coordinator: pink2011info@gmail.com

Berlin, Germany
3:00pm ~ 6:00pm : Demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate
Event Coordinator: kimsunderhiswing@googlemail.com

Tokyo, Japan
12:00pm ~ 12:50pm Demonstration at Hachiko Square in Shibuya, Tokyo
1:30pm: Demonstration at Chongryon
Event Coordinator: kanandoj@yahoo.co.jp

London, UK
1:00pm ~ 3:00pm Demonstration at North Korea Embassy
Event Coordinator: S.Yang10@lse.ac.uk

There are three main objectives of these international protests on December 9, 2011:
1) To bring unprecedented pressure upon not only the NK regime but the international community to meaningfully address the horrific crimes being perpetuated systematically.
2) To influence and awaken global public opinion to the real, genocidal nature of the NK regime.
3) To create a watershed movement for the liberation of NK itself.

 Up to 200,000 political prisoners are languishing in North Korean prison camps, a sharp increase from 10 years ago, a United Nations envoy said Wednesday.

Compared to 2001, the latest satellite pictures of the country indicate a “significant increase in the scale of the camps,” said Marzuki Darusman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in North Korea, in a report presented before the UN General Assembly.

He noted that some of the prisoners are being held just for being relatives of other detainees.

“I call on the authorities to move forward concretely and urgently on the release of political prisoners,” Darusman said.

He pointed to the “critical food situation” in communist North Korea, adding that international food aid was now “dwindling” and that the hermit country “continues to face regular, significant food shortages.”

Current government rations meet less than half the needs of most of the population of 16 million receiving public food supplies, Darusman said, citing briefings.

The head of UN humanitarian operations is currently visiting North Korea until Friday to evaluate the country’s humanitarian needs.  [Korea Herald]

A couple of good books I recommend reading about the conditions in these concentration camps is Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick and Long Road Home by Kim Yong.

It is a tribute to the Korean War and the US forces that fought in it. It included a display on NK Human Rights and other NK-related items like the sinking of the Cheonan and the recent artillery attack.

There was a pro-US group out working.

The pro-US, anti-NK group that promotes remembrance of the Korean War, North Korea’s provocations, and NK Human Rights had setup its long display of images from the Korean War and NK atrocities and provocations like the Cheonan Incident.

I didn’t have my still camera with me, but it was the same group and most of the same setup they put out not too far away during the recent NK Human Rights Week.

The display was on the edge of the sidewalk along the main road in front of the Seoul Finance Center (a short walk from City Hall and Kyobo Bookstore in the other direction).

Here are some shots of that.

For those interested you can read more over at One Free Korea or at the Justice4NK website.

North Korea is holding around 200,000 people in huge political prison camps where inmates are forced to work in conditions approaching slavery and are often tortured, Amnesty International said on Tuesday.

The rights group published recent satellite images showing four of the six camps located in vast wilderness sites in South Pyongan, South Hamkyung and North Hamkyung provinces.

A comparison with satellite pictures from 2001 indicated a significant increase in the scale of the camps, which are believed to have been operating since the 1950s, it said.

Amnesty International spoke to a number of people, including former inmates from the political prison camp at Yodok, as well as guards in other camps, revealing what it said were horrific conditions.  [Reuters]

Normally I would say read the rest at the link, but don’t bother if you are someone who has been following this site or other North Korea related sites like One Free Korea that has long discussed everything Amnesty International is suddenly deciding to report.  As regular readers know I have been highly critical of Amnesty International in the past for their obvious politically and financially motivated concerns towards human rights.

You can read the actual report they released on North Korea’s camp on their website at this link. What I find funny is that they are treating their publishing of satellite imagery of the camps as something new when One Free Korea has for years been publishing detailed Google Earth images of North Korea’s camps without a word of recognition from Amnesty International.  If you can believe it that means that for this year, so far Amnesty International has released nine reports critical of South Korean human rights and only one for North Korea.

So this of course does little to change my opinion of Amnesty International.  If they promote North Korean human rights causes over the long term that would change my opinion of them.  In the meantime if people want to donate money to a worthy human rights cause they would be better off sending their money to organizations like Liberty in North Korea or the North Korea Freedom Coalition than Amnesty International.

Hundreds of North Korean defectors and civic group members gathered at Seoul Railway Station plaza and denounced North Korea’s “brutal” leadership….

Artists often use their work to call attention to various causes, whether personal or political.

A young Korean-Australian illustrator joined this group of artist-activists when she launched the group art exhibition “Story of a Secret State” at the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival in Australia last year. The artworks in the exhibition depict the harsh, and hidden, reality of life in North Korea.

The artist and exhibition organizer, Courtney Kim, 27, is now preparing to take the exhibition on the road, beginning with stops in New Zealand and China, and she was busy preparing for the tour when we talked in Melbourne on April 5.

“It’s a shame to see South Korea’s achievements, such as hosting the G-20 Summit and 2002 World Cup, receiving less acknowledgement because of the bad news about North Korea’s foul deeds,” she said.  [Joong Ang Ilbo via reader tip]

Read the rest at the link but she also has some interesting things to say about the Korean educational system as well.

Dear Friends:

Next week the 8th Annual North Korea Freedom Week will occur, and I am pleased to provide an update on events being scheduled to promote the freedom, human rights and dignity of the North Korean people.

In Washington, D.C. there will be a North Korea Freedom Fest in Washington, D.C.on April 25 and 26 – a special film festival highlighting three documentaries in which all the directors will be present.  This event is being organized by Patty Kim and Chris Sheridan, and the poster for the event follows below with all the details on how to participate.

In Seoul and Busan, during the week there is a complete schedule of public events listed below including hosts, locations and contact information.

If you cannot join us in Washington D.C., or Korea, you can still participate in North Korea Freedom Week with prayers and financial support:

Open Doors has launched a Shatter the Darkness prayer campaign in conjunction with North Korea Freedom Week.  Here is the link for information http://www.opendoorsusa.org/pray/North-Korea-Freedom-Week

We are still raising funds towards the balloon launch into North Korea and other NKFW activities.  If you can help with a donation to support NKFW, you can donate at www.defenseforum.org or for general support of North Korea programs at www.nkfreedom.org

Warm regards,
Suzanne Scholte

NKFW2011 Schedule

When: April 24 ~ May 1 (Sunday to Sunday)

Location: Seoul, South Korea

Hosted by: North Korea Freedom Coalition (Chairman Suzanne Scholte)

Organized by: International Foreign Policy and Security Forum (Dr. Hyunuk Kim), Esther Prayer Movement (Prof. Lee Yong Hee), and 25 other North Korean Defector Organizations.

Theme: “Let’s Make 2011 The Year Of Freedom For North Korea!”

Sub-theme: “Pass the North Korean Human Rights Act! /Abolish the Political Prison Camps!

NKFW2011 Chairmen:

Suzanne Scholte (Founder of NKFW, Seoul Peace Prize Laureate)

Dr. Hyunuk Kim (President of the International Forum for Foreign Policy & National Security; Former National Assemblyman of the Republic of Korea)

Hong Soon Kyung (President of the Committee for Democratization of North Korea)

Prof. Lee Yong Hee (Director of the Esther Prayer Movement for North Korea; Professor, Kyungwon University)

Prof. Jhe Seung Ho (Former Republic of Korea Ambassador-at-Large for North Korean Human Rights)

Lee Heung Woo/Choo Sun Ae (Korea Parent Federation Director, Secretary General)

The Rev. Heemoon Lee (Vice-Chairman, North Korea Freedom Coalition; Senior Pastor, Hana Presbyterian Church in Maryland, USA)

Do Hee Yun (Director, Citizen’s Coalition for Human Rights of Abductees and North Korean Refugees)

Moon Guk Han (President, North Korea Human Rights International Association; North Korea Genocide Exhibit)

The Rev. Peter Chung (Director, Justice For North Korea)

Prof. Nishioka Tsutomu (Chairman, National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea NARKN; Professor, Tokyo Christian University)

Joint Executive Planning Chairmen:

Kim Seong Min (Free North Korea Radio, FNKR)

Kim Tae Jin (Free the NK Gulag, FNKG)

Kim Young Il (People for the Successful Reunification of Corea, PSCORE)

Kim Heung Kwang (North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity, NKIS)

Jang Se Yul (North Korea People’s Liberation Front, NKPLF)

Kang Su Jin (Coalition for North Korean Women’s Rights)

Kang Chul Ho (Senior Pastor, Saetu Church)

Kim Young Nam (North Korean Defectors Artists Association)

And 20 other North Korean Defector organizations

Sponsors:

The Ministry of Unification; the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; the City of Seoul; various newspapers and TV stations.

NKFW2011 programs happening THROUGHOUT the week:

- April 25 through 29 (Monday ~ Friday)

EVENT: Photo and Art Exhibition for abolishing the political prison camps.

Location: April 25-27 (Mon. ~ Wed.) National Assembly, Members’ Hall, 10AM to 6PM; April 26 (Tuesday) Seoul Station Plaza, 12PM to 7PM; April 25-29 (Mon. ~ Fri.) Seoul City Hall Station, 10AM to 4PM.

HOST: Free the NK Gulag (www.nkgulag.org), ROK National Assembly Human Rights Forum (Assemblyman Hwang Woo Yea), North Korea Freedom Coalition

- April 25 through 28 (Monday ~ Thursday)

EVENT: Photo and Document Exhibition PR event for reporting abductee cases.

Location: Seoul Metro #2 Exhibition Hall, Line No. 3, Kyongbok Palace Station.

HOST: Korean War Abductees Family Union (http://625.in/en/index.php)

- April 25 through 29 (Monday ~ Friday)

EVENT: Card writing/signature drive for passing the North Korean Human Rights Act

Location: Kiosks to be set up at key locations throughout Seoul during duration of NKFW2011

HOST: North Korea People’s Liberation Front (www.nkplf.com)

- April 27 through 29 (Wednesday ~ Friday)

EVENT: Reading of the names of POWs/Abductees.

Location: Wonpyo Park, in front of the Chosun Ilbo Bldg

HOST: Crimes Against Humanity Investigation Committee (http://iccnk.kr/xe/main)

- April 23 through 29 (Saturday ~ Friday)

EVENT: North Korea Genocide Exhibit

Location: April 23 to 25 – Gwanghwamun, ‘Gwanghwamun Citizen’s Open Square’; Seoul Metro Line #5, Gwanghwamun Station

April 25 to 29 – ‘Seun Greeway Park’, Jong-no-3-gu (across the street from the Jongmyo Confucian Shrine)

HOST: Korea Human Rights International Association (www.nkgenocide.net), Crimes Against Humanity Investigation Committee

In Busan – April 25 through May 9^th; Daily 10AM to 7PM.

EVENT: ‘Where Love Does Not Exist’ North Korean Political Prison Camps Exhibition’

Location: BUSAN, Donga University Museum Annex (Multipurpose Hall), Special Q&A sessions on April 27 and 28 from 4 to 5PM

HOST: Donga University International Foreign Affairs and National Security Student Research Association, Handong University S.A.G.E.

For the latest, up-to-date NKFW2011 Schedule, please visit:  www.nkfreedom.org

행사 스케쥴:  http://cafe.naver.com/nkfw

NKFW2011 Schedule of Events

Sunday, April 24^th

9AM ~10AM

Wreath-laying Ceremony at the War Memorial (U.S. & U.N. veterans’ memorial)

Location: The War Memorial of Korea (www.warmemo.or.kr)

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 1, Namyong Station; Lines 4 & 6, Samgakji Station (Exit #12) www.warmemo.or.kr/eng/guide/location.jsp

Contact: Henry Song (henry@defenseforum.org; 010-8672-0035)

11AM ~ 12PM

Service at Saetu Church (Easter Service/Prayer Service for Successful NKFW2011)

Host: Saetu Church; Pastor Kang Cheol Ho (kangch214@hanmail.net)

Location: Saetu Church, Shinjung-Dong 337 Mokdong 2Cha Woosung APT B-sangga 4th Floor

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 5, Mok Dong Station Exit 5; Line 2, Yangcheon-Gu Office Station and then Bus #6617 Last Stop

Monday, April 25^th

‘Love and Freedom to the Imprisoned!’ – North Korean Political Prison Camp Photo & Art Exhibition

10AM ~ 6PM

Location: National Assembly, Members’ Hall, Yoido

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line #9 Nat. Assembly Station Exits #1 or #6; www.assembly.go.kr/renew10/asm/ifn/visit_map.jsp

10AM ~ 4PM

Location: Seoul City Hall Station

Transportation: Seoul Metro Lines 1, 2 City Hall Station

Hosts: Free the NK Gulag, ROK National Assembly Human Rights Forum

Contact: Mr. Kim Tae Jin (nkgulag@gmail.com)

10AM ~11AM

NKFW Opening Press Conference and Briefing on NKFW2011

Location: National Assembly, Heonjung Memorial Hall (Visitor’s Center); Yoido

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line #9 Nat. Assembly Station Exits #1 or #6; www.assembly.go.kr/renew10/asm/ifn/visit_map.jsp

Contact: Ms. Lee Jee Hae (jeehae.e@gmail.com)

11AM ~ 12PM

Briefing & Testimony on the North Korean Political Prison Camps

Hosts: Free the NK Gulag

Location: National Assembly, Heonjung Memorial Hall (Visitor’s Center); Yeouido

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line #9 Nat. Assembly Station Exits #1 or #6; www.assembly.go.kr/renew10/asm/ifn/visit_map.jsp

Contact: Mr. Kim Tae Jin (nkgulag@gmail.com)

2PM ~3PM

Opening of the North Korea Genocide Exhibit

Host: North Korea Human Rights International Association

Location: ‘Seun Greenway Park’, Jong-no-3-gu (across the street from the Jongmyo Confucian Shrine)

Transportation: Seoul Metro to Jongno 3(sam)-ga, Jongno-gu

Contact: Mr. Moon Guk Han (sgf2002@hanmail.net)

7PM ~ 9PM

North Korean Defector’s Testimony

HOST: PSALT NK Korea (Prayer, Service, Action, Love, Truth for North Korea) (www.psaltnk.org)

Location: Kangnam Presbyterian Church (map, in Korean:  http://www.knpc.or.kr/2008web/index.asp)

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 1, Noryangjin Station –or- Line 9 Noryangjin Station, Exit #3

Contact: Grace Kim (010-9459-5222; grace@psaltnk.org)

ALL DAY

Opening of the Korean War POW/MIA Photo Exhibit

Host: Korean War Abductees Family Union (KWAFU)

Location: Seoul Metro #2 Exhibition Hall, Line No. 3, Kyongbok Palace Station (Basement Flr. 1)

Contact: Lee Mi Il (milee625@hanmail.net)

Press conference and card/signature writing campaign for NKHR

Host: North Korea People’s Liberation Front

Location: In front of Gwanghwamun Statue, Gwanghwamun Square

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line #5, Gwanghwamun Station

Contact: Jang Se Yool

Tuesday, April 26^th

‘Love and Freedom to the Imprisoned!’ – North Korean Political Prison Camp Photo & Art Exhibition

10AM ~ 6PM

Location: National Assembly, Members’ Hall, Yoido

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line #9 Nat. Assembly Station Exits #1 or #6; www.assembly.go.kr/renew10/asm/ifn/visit_map.jsp

10AM ~ 4PM

Location: Seoul City Hall Station

Transportation: Seoul Metro Lines 1, 2 City Hall Station

12PM ~ 7PM

Location: Seoul Station Plaza

Transportation: Seoul Metro Lines 1 & 4, Seoul Station

Hosts: Free the NK Gulag, ROK National Assembly Human Rights Forum

Contact: Mr. Kim Tae Jin (nkgulag@gmail.com)

[CLOSED, PRIVATE EVENT]

1PM~2:30PM

NK Defector Testimony during school assembly

Host: Centennial Christian School

2PM ~5PM

National Rally for North Korean Freedom

Hosts: International Forum for Foreign Policy & National Security, Crimes Against Humanity Investigation Committee

Location: Seoul Station

Transportation: Seoul Metro Lines 1 & 4, Seoul Station

Contacts: Dr. Hyunuk Kim, Mr. Do Hee Yoon (dhy21c@hanmail.net)

6PM ~8PM

Pro-NK list release & Candlelight Vigil for peace

Host: North Korea People’s Liberation Front

Location: Seoul Station

Transportation: Seoul Metro Lines 1 & 4, Seoul Station

Contact: Jang Se Yool

ALL DAY

* NKPLF card/signature writing campaign for NK human rights (NKPLF)

Location: Wonpyo Park, in front of the Chosun Ilbo Bldg

* North Korean Abductees Photo Exhibit (KWAFU)

Location: Seoul Metro #2 Exhibition Hall, Line No. 3, Kyongbok Palace Station (Basement Flr. 1)

* North Korea Genocide Exhibit

Location: ‘Seun Greenway Park’, Jong-no-3-gu (across the street from the Jongmyo Confucian Shrine)

Wednesday, April 27^th

‘Love and Freedom to the Imprisoned!’ – North Korean Political Prison Camp Photo & Art Exhibition

10AM ~ 6PM

Location: National Assembly, Members’ Hall, Yoido

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line #9 Nat. Assembly Station Exits #1 or #6; www.assembly.go.kr/renew10/asm/ifn/visit_map.jsp

10AM ~ 4PM

Location: Seoul City Hall Station

Transportation: Seoul Metro Lines 1, 2 City Hall Station

Hosts: Free the NK Gulag, ROK National Assembly Human Rights Forum

Contact: Mr. Kim Tae Jin (nkgulag@gmail.com)

11:00AM

Reading of the names of POWs/Abductees

Host: Crimes Against Humanity Investigation Committee

Location: Wonpyo Park, in front of the Chosun Ilbo Bldg.

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 2, City Hall Station or Line 5, Gwanghwamun Station

Contact: Mr. Do Hee Yoon (dhy21c@hanmail.net)

2PM ~4PM

‘Establishing the Desired Direction for the Passage of the NKHR Act’

Hosts: Coalition for NK Women’s Rights; PSCORE (http://nkwomen.org; http://pscore.org/en/)

Location: National Assembly, Library Bldg. Auditorium

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line #9 Nat. Assembly Station Exits #1 or #6; www.assembly.go.kr/renew10/asm/ifn/visit_map.jsp

Contacts: Kang Su Jin, Kim Young Il (youngilkim78@naver.com)

ALL DAY

* Reading of the names of POWs/Abductees

Location: Wonpyo Park, in front of the Chosun Ilbo Bldg

* NKPLF card/signature writing campaign for NK human rights (NKPLF)

Location: Wonpyo Park, in front of the Chosun Ilbo Bldg

* North Korean Abductees Photo Exhibit (KWAFU)

Location: Seoul Metro #2 Exhibition Hall, Line No. 3, Kyongbok Palace Station (Basement Flr. 1)

* North Korea Genocide Exhibit

Location: ‘Seun Greenway Park’, Jong-no-3-gu (across the street from the Jongmyo Confucian Shrine)

Thursday, April 28^th

7AM ~ 9AM

Suzanne Scholte Speech at the Int’l Forum for Foreign Policy & National Security

Host: International Forum for Foreign Policy & National Security

Location: The Garak Hotel, 2^nd Floor

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 8, Garak Market Station Exit 3

Contact: Mr. Chae Hyun (posabcd@hanmail.net)

10AM ~ 4PM

‘Love and Freedom to the Imprisoned!’ – North Korean Political Prison Camp Photo & Art Exhibition

Hosts: Free the NK Gulag, ROK National Assembly Human Rights Forum

Location: Seoul City Hall Station

Transportation: Seoul Metro Lines 1, 2 City Hall Station

Contact: Mr. Kim Tae Jin (nkgulag@gmail.com)

4PM ~ 6PM

‘Crossing’ Screening

Host: Sejong University Student Association

Location: Sejong University

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 7, Children’s Grand Park Station

Contact: Ms. Hyoju Kim (hyoju@defenseforum.org)

5PM~7PM

Meeting Time with North Korean defectors and South Korean university students

(Yodok, Bukchang political prison camp survivors’ testimonies)

Host: Crimes Against Humanity Investigation Committee

Location: Chung-Ang University

Transportation: http://neweng.cau.ac.kr/caulife/content.php?num=67

Contact: Mr. Do Hee Yoon

7PM ~9PM

Catholic Mass at Balsandong Catholic Church

Host: Balsandong Cathedral, International Forum for Foreign Policy & National Security

Location:  Balsandong Catholic Church

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 5, Ujangsan Station Exit 3

Contact: Mr. Chae Hyun (posabcd@hanmail.net)

ALL DAY

* Reading of the names of POWs/Abductees

Location: Wonpyo Park, in front of the Chosun Ilbo Bldg

* NKPLF card/signature writing campaign for NK human rights (NKPLF)

Location: Wonpyo Park, in front of the Chosun Ilbo Bldg

* North Korean Abductees Photo Exhibit (KWAFU)

Location: Seoul Metro #2 Exhibition Hall, Line No. 3, Kyongbok Palace Station (Basement Flr. 1)

* North Korea Genocide Exhibit

Location: ‘Seun Greenway Park’, Jong-no-3-gu (across the street from the Jongmyo Confucian Shrine)

Friday, April 29^th

10AM ~ 4PM

‘Love and Freedom to the Imprisoned!’ – North Korean Political Prison Camp Photo & Art Exhibition

Hosts: Free the NK Gulag, ROK National Assembly Human Rights Forum

Location: Seoul City Hall Station

Transportation: Seoul Metro Lines 1, 2 City Hall Station

Contact: Mr. Kim Tae Jin (nkgulag@gmail.com)

10AM ~ 12PM

‘Stop Forced Repatriation!’ – Protest at the Chinese Embassy

Host: NK Defector organizations and human rights activists

Location: Embassy of PRC (54, Hyoja-Dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul)

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 3, Gyeonbokgung Station

Contact: Kim Seung Min (mini6915@hanmail.net)

9AM~12PM

‘Revealing the Truth about the human rights situation in North Korea’

Host: NK Intellectuals Solidarity (www.nkis.kr)

Location: National Press Center Bldg., Press Room

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 1 or 2, City Hall Station Exit 4; Line 5, Gwanghwamun Station

Contact: Kim Heung Kwang (romeo4188@hanmail.net)

2:30PM ~ 4:30PM (Registration from 2PM)

World Perspectives on the Unification of Korea

Host: Save North Korea; Sponsors: Ministry of Unification, Future Korea Media

Location: National Press Center Bldg., Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club – 18^th Floor

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 1 or 2, City Hall Station Exit 4; Line 5, Gwanghwamun Station

7:30PM~10PM

‘Friday Fire’ Prayer Service at New Philadelphia Church English-Language congregation

Host: New Philadelphia Church (www.newphiladelphiachurch.com)

Location: Itaewon Campus

Transportation: Detailed information at http://newphiladelphiachurch.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109&Itemid=73

Contact: Gloria Lee (gloria.the.korean@gmail.com)

8PM ~ 5AM

1,000 Gathering Prayer Vigil for North Korean Freedom

Host: Esther Prayer Movement for North Korea (http://www.pray24365.org/)

Location: Seoul Chongkyo Methodist Church

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 3 Kyongbok Palace Station Exit #6 –OR- Line 5 Gwanghwamun Station Ext #1 http://chongkyo.net/main/?skin=map.htm

Contact: Ms. You Young Mi (ymyou5@hanmail.net)

ALL DAY

* Reading of the names of POWs/Abductees

Location: Wonpyo Park, in front of the Chosun Ilbo Bldg

* NKPLF card/signature writing campaign for NK human rights (NKPLF)

Location: Wonpyo Park, in front of the Chosun Ilbo Bldg

* North Korea Genocide Exhibit

Location: ‘Seun Greeway Park’, Jong-no-3-gu (across the street from the Jongmyo Confucian Shrine)

Saturday, April 30^th

12PM ~ 1PM

Balloon Launch into North Korea for Unification

Host: Fighters for Free North Korea (www.ffnk.net)

Location: Imjingak, Paju City

Transportation: Gyeongui Rail Line, Imjingak Station

Contact: Mr. Park Sang Hak (berojapark@hanmail.net)

3PM~5PM

161^st Street Campaign for North Korea

Host: Justice for North Korea (www.justice4nk.org/en/)

Location: Insadong

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 1 Jonggak Station; Lines 1, 3, 5, Jongo 3-ga Station

Contact: Dan Bielefeld (rescuenorthkorea@gmail.com)

5PM ~ 8PM

Musical Concert & Culture and Prayer Night for NK, featuring North Korean defector artists and South Korean musicians

*Appreciation Plaque presenting ceremony to police officers who provide security for NK defectors* during the event

Host: North Korean Defectors Artists Association

Location: Jung Dong First Methodist Church

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 1 City Hall Station Exit #1, Line 2 City Hall Station Exit #12

Contact: The Rev. Chang Ho Lim (changholim@ymail.com)

Sunday, May 1^st

10AM ~12PM

Service for Unification with North Korean Defectors

Host: Saetu Church; Pastor Kang Cheol Ho (kangch214@hanmail.net)

Location: Saetu Church, Shinjung-Dong 337 Mokdong 2Cha Woosung APT B-sangga 4th Floor

Transportation: Seoul Metro Line 5, Mok Dong Station Exit 5; Line 2, Yangcheon-Gu Office Station and then Bus #6617 Last Stop

But guess which country they are concerned about human rights violations, those evil South Koreans of course.  This year they have released 7 reports critical of the South Korean government while issuing none critical of North Korea:

South Korea: Further information: Trade unionist still at risk of …
9 March 2011

On 2 March the Seoul 12th Administrative Court issued a temporary injunction against the forcible deportation of Michel Catuira, President of the Seoul-Gyeonggi …

Urgent Action       ASA 25/003/2011

South Korean government must not deport migrants’ trade union …
2 March 2011

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. PUBLIC STATEMENT. AI Index: ASA 25/002/2011. 2 March 2011. South Korean government must not deport migrants’ trade union leader. …

Public Statement       ASA 25/002/2011

Eight South Koreans convicted for breaching National Security Law …
24 February 2011

Amnesty International has condemned the conviction of eight members of the Socialist Workers League (SWL), a small association that espouses socialism. All eight …

Press Release

Eight South Koreans convicted for breaching National Security Law …
24 February 2011

The members of the Socialist Workers League, a small association that espouses socialism, were found guilty of “propagating or instigating a rebellion against …

Story

South Korea: Trade unionist at risk of forced deportation: Michel …
18 February 2011

Michel Catuira, President of the Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants’ Trade Union (MTU) in South Korea is at risk of being deported. The Korea Immigration Service has …

Urgent Action       ASA 25/001/2011

South Korean rights defenders convicted for helping victims of …
24 January 2011

Two South Korean human rights defenders have been convicted for peaceful protest in support of families whose loved ones died while demonstrating against forced …

Story

South Korean rights defenders convicted for helping victims of …
24 January 2011

Amnesty International has condemned the conviction of two South Korean human rights defenders for peacefully protesting in support of families whose loved ones …

Press Release