PRESS RELEASE: HRNK PUBLICATION QUOTED IN REPORT OF THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE DPRK
(A/72/279 dated 3 Aug 2017 – released 28 Aug)
Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 71/202 on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres submitted his report on August 28. The report is available from http://undocs.org/A/72/279.
The report provides an overview of human rights issues in the country from September 2016 to August 2017 and of the Government’s engagement with the United Nations in that regard. The report directly cites HRNK’s report authored by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Greg Scarlatoiu, “North Korea, flooding at Kyo-hwa-so No. 12, Jongo-ri” (Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, 16 September 2016. Available from www.hrnk.org/uploads/pdfs/Kyo-hwa-so%20No_%2012%20Flooding.pdf):
37. At the end of August 2016, the remnants of Typhoon Lionrock hit North Hamgyong Province, unleashing strong winds and heavy rains. The Tumen River burst its banks and its tributaries inundated floodplains, submerging agricultural land and damaging water systems, schools and health facilities. Homes were also damaged or destroyed, resulting in the displacement of over 70,000 people. A total of 27,411 hectares of standing crops, mostly rice and maize, were damaged, which constituted 1.9 per cent of total farm crop area in 2016. The Central Emergency Response Fund released $5,054,519 for rapid response in relation to agriculture, food security, health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene. Prison camp (kyohwaso) number 12, in Jongo-ri, North Hamgyong Province, which reportedly housed up to 5,000 prisoners, was not included in the assessment. Satellite images indicate that the prison camp was affected, including by the destruction of nearby crop land and pollution stemming from the overflow of runoff from a nearby copper mill. This may have exacerbated the already severe food situation in the prison camp.9.
9. Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Greg Scarlatoiu, “North Korea, flooding at Kyo-hwa-so No. 12, Jongo-ri” (Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, 16 September 2016). Available from www.hrnk.org/uploads/pdfs/Kyo-hwa-so%20No_%2012%20Flooding.pdf.
HRNK wishes to thank and congratulate friends and donors for their vision and dedication to bringing freedom and human rights to the people of North Korea. It is your critical contributions that sustain the morale, inspiration and resources needed to be a voice for the voiceless millions oppressed by the Kim regime.
For media inquiries, please contact Greg Scarlatoiu, Executive Director:
Executive.director@hrnk.org
202-499-7973
