Currently, the Ministry of State Security's Liaoning office has detained NorthKorean human rights activist Kim Young Hwan (49) and three otherSouth Koreans (Ryu Jae Kil, Kang Shin Sam and Lee Sang Yong) for morethan 50 days. The Chinese authorities allowed one consular interviewfor Kim and have not allowed one for the other South Koreans.Furthermore, the Chinese authorities are not even giving a specificreason for the arrests and imprisonment while investigating themunder the charge of espionage.

The Committee for the Release of North Korean Human Rights Activist KimYoung Hwan clarifies that the imprisonment and detention by theChinese authorities is a violation of international law. The Chinesegovernment is detaining South Korean nationals without providing anyevidence for its doing so. There is no reason for the North Koreanactivists to be imprisoned for espionage, they are incarceratedwithout clear charges, and access to an attorney or consul is denied.

The committee suspects North Korean intelligence’s involvement infabricating this incident with the MSS Liaoning office. Thissuspicion is supported by the fact that the four South Koreans arenow being investigated in Dandong, which is close to North Korea.Otherwise, it is hard to understand why they have been refusedconsular access. 

The committee demands the following for the release of the four SouthKorean citizens including Kim Young Hwan.

The Chinese government must release the four South Koreans immediately.The Chinese central government must undertake an investigation intopossible illegal activities by the MSS Liaoning office. 2012 is the20thanniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the ROK and PRCgovernments, and both countries recently started negotiations for aKorea-China FTA. At this point, the forced imprisonment of the SouthKoreans by Chinese authorities is against China’s national interestand goes against the Korea-China friendship. Therefore the committeeasks the Chinese government to be a responsible member of international society and release the four South Koreans includingKim Young Hwan.

The committee also asks the South Korean government and people to jointhe effort for their immediate release. Therefore, the committee will be composed of prominent members of South Korean society. Thecommittee will undertake the release effort in close cooperation withthe government of the Republic of Korea.

The committee will also cooperate with UN organs and international humanrights groups. The committee will submit requests to UN organs likethe Working Group on Arbitrary Detention or the Special Rapporteur onTorture. The committee will also cooperate with international humanrights organizations like Amnesty International and Human RightsWatch.

 

Our Demands

• The Chinese government must release North Korean human rights activistKim Young Hwan and three other South Koreans.

• The Chinese government must abide by international law and allow theimprisoned South Koreans access to consul and meeting with familymembers.

• The Chinese government must investigate involvement of North Koreanintelligence agencies in the arrest, and punish those who areresponsible for illegal cooperation with them.

• Webeseech international society and the South Korean government to workhard for the release of the North Korean human rights activists andtheir safe return to South Korea.

 

Honorary Advisor
- KimYoung Sam (former President of ROK)

Co-Chairs
-Ryu Geun Il (journalist, Chairman of the Committee)
-Yu Se Hee (professor emeritus of Hanyang University, Chairman of theCommittee)

Advisors

-Roh Jae Bong (former Prime Minister)

-Park Gwan Yong (former Chairman of the National Assembly)

-Park Beom Jin (former Congressman)

-Ahn Dong Il (lawyer)

-Lee In Ho (former Ambassador to Russia)

-Ahn Byung Jik (Chairman of Zeitgeist)

-Park Sang Jung (Chairman of the Beautiful Foundation)

-Kang Geun Hwan (former President of Seoul Theological Seminary)

-Kang In Seob (Chairman of Seoul Hope Forum)

Committee Members
-Han Ki Hong (President of the Network for North Korean Democracy andHuman Rights)
-Kang Chol Hwan (President of the North Korea Strategy Center)