[USFK Forums] U.S. prepared to take in N. Korean refugees if needed: U.S. envoy

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Saturday, April 1, 2006

U.S. prepared to take in N. Korean refugees if needed: U.S. envoy

Saturday April 1, 7:11 AM

(Kyodo) _ The United States would be willing to take in North Korean refugees "if the need arises," the U.S. envoy for human rights in North Korea said Friday.

"I think the United States is certainly prepared to do what it has always done, and done honorably, which is to be a place of refuge for people who are seeking refuge from despotic regimes," said Jay Lefkowitz. "I think if the situation arises we will be in a position to take N. Korean refugees into the United States."

He added that he hoped that time would come soon, but declined to specify a date.

Lefkowitz met with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan on Friday afternoon to discuss the issue of raising international consciousness on the human rights issue in North Korea and what he labeled the "terrible deprivation" of human rights in the country.

"We talked about broadening the international consensus and mobilizing more of the international community to join in this effort," he said, citing the recent case of China's treatment of a North Korean woman who was arrested and deported by Chinese authorities after seeking refuge at two Korean schools in China.

Hee, who is in her 30s, was deported to North Korea, despite efforts by the United States, South Korea and the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to raise the case with Beijing.

"We don't even know if she's still alive," Lefkowitz said. He said he discussed with Annan "the need for pressing China to honor its international obligations and to afford the High Commissioner for Refugees full and fair access to refugees in northeastern China as they are required to do under their international obligations."

Lefkowitz, who was appointed last year by U.S. President George W. Bush, also cited the need to increase the flow of information both in and out of North Korea as a priority in cracking open North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's isolated government.

"I think particularly the countries in Asia who have influence and economic influence with North Korea need to join this fight, step up and challenge North Korea to take human rights more seriously," the envoy said.

He also commended Japan for its appointment of Ambassador Fumiko Saiga as ambassador in charge of human rights last December. Saiga also serves as Japan's ambassador to Norway and Iceland.

On the issue of the Japanese abductees in North Korea, Lefkowitz said he had worked with Saiga to raise international consciousness on that issue and meeting with the families of the abductees.

"I hope that the North Korea government will be responsive to the cries of the international community and address this issue directly with the Japanese," he said.

Both Lefkowitz and his Japanese counterpart Saiga will attend an international conference on the human rights situation in North Korea in Bergen, Norway, from May 9-11.



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