North Korea: How to maintain peace?

Call for Action:

1. Human Rights Integration: Prioritize human rights concerns in diplomatic discussions and negotiations related to North Korea. Encourage governments and international bodies to actively integrate human rights considerations into their policies and engagements with the country.

2. Support for Defector Rescues: Provide increased support and resources for organizations that focus on rescuing North Korean defectors. Emphasize the importance of rescuing individuals hiding in China, assisting them in obtaining refugee status, and ensuring their path to freedom.

 3. Information Inflow Strategies: Develop and implement effective strategies to increase the inflow of unbiased external information into North Korea. Support initiatives that empower North Korean citizens with accurate information, enabling them to make informed decisions about their country's situation.

4. Global Collaboration: Advocate for enhanced international collaboration to address the multifaceted challenges posed by North Korea. Encourage coordinated efforts among governments, NGOs, and global institutions to tackle security threats, human rights violations, and information manipulation within the country.

5. Review Scientific Engagements: Encourage a critical review of scientific engagements with North Korea, particularly from countries like Germany. Emphasize the need for ethical considerations and transparency in such engagements, ensuring that they do not inadvertently contribute to whitewashing or ignore human rights issues

Main Outcomes:

1. Human Rights Focus: The discussions emphasized the critical importance of focusing on human rights issues within North Korea. The panelists highlighted the need for the international community, particularly Germany, to prioritize efforts that address the severe human rights violations faced by the North Korean population.

2. Information Inflow Strategies: An essential aspect of addressing the challenges in North Korea involves developing strategies to facilitate the inflow of information. The panelists underscored the significance of supporting North Korean defectors and ensuring that information about the outside world reaches the citizens within North Korea. This includes efforts to counteract the regime's propaganda and expose the population to alternative perspectives.

3. Global Collaboration for Peace: The discussions revealed a call for increased global collaboration to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula. The panelists highlighted the changing geopolitical landscape, particularly North Korea's evolving relationships with Russia and China. It was suggested that diplomatic efforts should consider these dynamics while seeking peaceful resolutions and fostering stability in the region.

4. Support for North Korean Defectors: The panelists emphasized the need for concerted efforts to support North Korean defectors, both in terms of their safety and their ability to share their experiences. Initiatives to rescue defectors, raise awareness about their plight, and advocate for their rights were identified as crucial components in addressing the humanitarian aspect of the North Korean issue.

Panel discussion summary:

The panel discussion on maintaining peace in the world concerning the North Korean threat, featuring Nicolai Sprekels, Barbara Demick, Pastor Seungeun Kim, and Deukyun Sunny Hwang (translator), provided valuable insights into the complexities surrounding the region. Each participant brought a unique perspective, contributing to a nuanced understanding of the issues at hand.

Nicolai Sprekels opened the discussion as the co-founder and chairman of the board of the NGO 'SARAM - Foundation for Human Rights in North Korea.' Sprekels emphasized the need to address security policies in North Korea, which have implications for international states. He welcomed the distinguished panelists, particularly highlighting the presence of Pastor Seungeun Kim.

Barbara Demick, a seasoned journalist, and author of "Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea," introduced herself and her extensive experience covering North Korea since 2001. Demick shared her insights into the nuclear threat posed by North Korea, emphasizing that Europeans might not be as focused on this threat compared to those directly in the line of fire, such as Japan and the United States.

Pastor Seungeun Kim, a prominent human rights advocate aiding North Korean defectors, brought a hands-on perspective to the discussion. As the leader of Caleb Mission, he outlined the organization's efforts in rescuing North Korean people over the past 24 years, assisting 1015 defectors in finding safety and self-reliance in South Korea.

As the discussion progressed, key themes emerged, including the perception of North Korea's nuclear threat, the impact of propaganda on the North Korean population, and the role of external information in promoting change. Barbara Demick discussed the dangers of dismissing North Korea's rhetoric, pointing out shifts in Kim Jong Un's strategies, such as abandoning the idea of reunification with South Korea. She also highlighted the evolving relationship between North Korea, Russia, and China, emphasizing a focus on human rights as a means of making tangible progress.

Pastor Seungeun Kim reiterated the importance of bringing outside information into North Korea to empower its people. He stressed the need for international support in rescuing North Korean defectors and preventing the regime from using external threats to manipulate its citizens. Pastor Kim also shed light on the severe challenges faced by North Korean defectors, including hacking schemes to support the regime's weapon development.

In response to concerns about the humanitarian situation in North Korea during COVID-19, Pastor Seungeun Kim shared information gathered through contacts inside North Korea. He indicated a worsening situation, likening it to the hardships faced in the 1990s. Barbara Demick raised questions about the regime's use of COVID-19 to tighten control over the population and the deteriorating living conditions, addressing issues like food supply, water, and heat.

Finally, the discussion turned to the role of Germany in addressing the North Korean issue. Nicolai Sprekels expressed concerns about Germany's approach, citing the lack of attention to human rights during scientific interactions and the potential whitewashing of information to maintain access to North Korea. He posed a question to Pastor Seungeun Kim about suggestions for German foreign policies towards North Korea.

In response, Pastor Seungeun Kim emphasized the importance of focusing on policies that facilitate the inflow of external information into North Korea. He urged support for North Korean defectors and the improvement of their human rights, particularly those hiding in China. Pastor Kim suggested that Germany could play a role in rescuing defectors and advocating for their rights.

In conclusion, the panel discussion provided a comprehensive overview of the challenges in maintaining peace in North Korea, ranging from the nuclear threat to humanitarian concerns. The diverse perspectives of the panelists highlighted the multi-faceted nature of the issue, emphasizing the need for international collaboration and a holistic approach to address the complex realities within North Korea.