[VOA 뉴스] ‘Small unification’ in the UK… ‘Inviting North Korean defectors’ is a natural thing.

North Korean defectors living in the UK attended every major event of South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol’s state visit to the UK commemorating the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and the UK. In particular, at the compatriot meeting, six North Korean defectors attended, which was unusual, and they expressed their gratitude, saying that a small unification had been achieved in the UK. A British lawmaker also responded that it was natural to invite North Korean defectors to the National Assembly, which represents King Charles III and the British people. Reporter Kim Young-kwon reports. (Video Editing: Kim Young-kwon)

On the 20th, on the first day of his state visit to the UK, South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol emphasized the freedom and human rights values ​​shared by Korea and the UK at a dinner meeting with local Koreans held at a hotel in London.

Six North Korean defectors who settled in the UK also attended this event, which was prepared by the President of South Korea for a valuable meeting with compatriots living overseas.

Timothy Cho, a North Korean Kkotjebi former member of the British Parliament, Park Ji-hyun, who overcame the pain of human trafficking and forced repatriation in China to become a human rights activist, Lee Jeong-hee, chairman of the Korean Federation of North Korean Defectors, Park Jeong-ha, vice president, and Kim Joo-il, secretary general of the International Coalition for North Korean Defectors. , They are Kim Gyu-ri, the older sister of Kim Cheol-ok, who was recently forcibly repatriated from China to North Korea.

In particular, Timothy Cho, secretary general of the British Parliament’s Bipartisan Group of Members on North Korean Issues, who ran for local elections as a candidate for the British ruling Conservative Party, said he sat at the same table as President Yoon and had several conversations with President Yoon and his wife about human rights issues in North Korea.

Timothy Cho / Secretary General of the British Parliament’s ‘Bipartisan Group of Members on North Korea Issues’
“The President put a lot of emphasis on saying, ‘North Korean defectors are strong and there are many successful cases.’ I said, ‘There is a community of North Korean defectors like this in the UK as well. “There were a few hundred people, and they came with nothing, but with the cooperation of the Korean community, we now have a small unified Korean peninsula here in the UK,’ and they were really happy about it.”

North Korean defectors said they had heard from South Korean officials that it was unprecedented for so many North Korean defectors to be invited to the president’s meeting with Koreans living abroad, and that they were grateful that their status had risen that much.

Lee Jeong-hee / President of the North Korean Defectors’ Association
“I really just dream. As our North Korean defectors met King Charles and President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Seok-yeol, interest in North Korean defectors increased significantly. “The status of North Korean defectors has really increased, so it’s really good.”

Park Ji-hyun and his wife were invited to the state dinner hosted by King Charles III of England at Buckingham Palace on the 21st for President Yoon and his wife. On the 22nd, President Yoon’s speech to the British Parliament was followed by the Duke of Gloucester, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, and the Mayor of London. Director Timothy Cho attended the dinner held at the Guildhall.

Park Ji-hyun / British North Korean human rights activist
“Isn’t the fact that we North Korean defectors were there in itself a message to the North Korean people, and a message showing how the (British and) South Korean governments are working together with leaders around the world for the North Korean people…? ”

North Korean defectors said that although the dictator Kim Jong-un’s siblings are belittling North Korean defectors as ‘human trash’ and spouting rude remarks, such preferential treatment from international leaders is like a reward for their courage in winning freedom, and it is heartwarming.

Regarding the treatment of North Korean defectors by the British royal family, government, and parliament, British Senator David Alton said that King Charles III’s interest in the situation of North Korean defectors is highly commendable, and that inviting North Korean defectors to major events during President Yoon’s state visit is unreasonable. He emphasized that it was the right thing to do.

This is Kim Young-kwon of VOA News.