UN Special Report Defending Those “Persecuted” and Fleeing

(ICC) – International Christian Concern welcomes the report by U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Right in North Korea , Vitit Muntarbhorn, for bringing attention to the awful situation in North Korea . Muntarbhorn notes that those who are fleeing persecution in North Korea (mostly Christian) should be regarding as refuges under international law, and are entitled to all the protections therein. In addition, Muntarbhorn highlights the fact that prisoners are held “under appalling conditions compounded by wide-ranging allegations of torture, forced labour and lack of access to legal help.” Vitit Muntarbhorn was appointed by the United Nations in April 2004 to specifically investigate and raise issues of torture, forced labor in labor camps, infanticide, and public executions. International Christian Concern welcomes the step that the special rapporteur is taking, and hopes that the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) will follow with a strong support of the findings when they are presented in March of this year. This is the first time an United Nations official has regarding those fleeing North Korea as meeting the international legal definition for refugee status.