Global Rights Compliance (GRC) has commenced Phase III of its significant programme “Strengthening Legal Capacity to Pursue Accountability in DPRK,” in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). This initiative, spearheaded by GRC, aims to create momentum towards international action and pave the way for future accountability efforts against the DPRK regime.
The moving story of Kyu Li and Cheol-Ok, two sisters from North Korea, highlights the critical nature of our mission. In 2014, Kyu Li Kim, a defector from North Korea, sought asylum in the UK. Contrasting sharply, her sister Cheol-Ok, also a defector, experienced trafficking in China and lived under distress until her forcible repatriation to North Korea last October. Cheol-Ok was among 500 North Korean refugees compelled to return.
Despite being a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, China does not recognise North Koreans as refugees; it categorises them as illegal economic migrants.
In a poignant statement to Sky News, Kyu Li expressed her regret, saying, “I should have taken her with me from the beginning, even if it meant we might die together.”
However, these two sisters are not isolated cases. It is estimated that up to 500 North Korean refugees ‘disappeared’ from China last October. This solemn reflection is not merely a look back at the past but a resounding call to action for the future. The forced return of these individuals by the Chinese government serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing impunity in North Korea, abetted by countries like China, and the pressing need for international intervention.
Catriona Murdoch, Partner and DPRK Project Director at GRC said “We need to work collectively and creatively to bring International Criminal Law to its full potential, as a rallying call to both greater awareness and action for the victims of the DPRK regime, and shine more light on a global blind spot”.
Global Rights Compliance, in collaboration with our esteemed partner, the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), and the brave Ms. Kim, continue to seek to bring these distressing events to light. GRC and TJWG were privileged to host a high-level event during the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court last December with Kyu Li, underscoring the continued silence and inaction of the international community.
This year, GRC will continue to collaborate with its Seoul-based partners on a project that is both timely and vital. Our partnership with NED is a testament to our dedication to confronting these injustices with the North Korean Human Rights Community to ensure that the voices of North Koreans are heard.
For three years, GRC has been charting accountability pathways for the transgressions of the DPRK regime. This has included working alongside North Korean Human Rights CSOs who have extensively documented and analyzed the range of crimes perpetrated by the North Korean Regime. GRC, with its North Korean Partners continues to strive for accountability and awareness. For further information, refer to the feature by Sky News.