A Korean-American activist for North Korean human rights is known to have

A Korean-American activist for North Korean human rights is known to have secretly entered the North Friday via China.


Robert Park (Korean name Park Dong-hoon), 28, is the head of Freedom and Life 2009, an organization promoting human rights in the North based in the U.S.

Pax Koreana, another organization for North Korean human rights, said yesterday that Park entered the North Korean village of Dangwon-ri in Hoeryong, North Hamkyong Province, by crossing the Tumen River from China around 5 a.m. Friday. He reportedly carried a letter urging North Korean leaders to assure human rights for their people.

In his letter addressed to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and other high-ranking officials in Pyongyang, Park said, “We simply want every North Korean to enjoy a free and safe life.”

In an interview with Reuters Wednesday in Seoul just before leaving for China, he said, “As a Christian, I think entering North Korea is my duty.”

“Even if I’m detained in the North, I don’t want the U.S. government to save me,” he added, referring to U.S. government intervention that got two American journalists freed in August.

Andrew Rain, vice spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said Friday in Washington, “The U.S. government puts utmost priority on protection and safety of American citizens,” reflecting the basic U.S. stance on the matter.

Pyongyang made no comment on Park’s entry as of yesterday.

Don’t you think there are more productive ways of addressing these issues than drawing attention to yourself and making us look like even bigger idiots and/or putting other individuals in jeopardy? Let him rot there.