On the occasion of North Korea Freedom Week, the United States recognizes the tenacity and courage of North Korean escapees and human rights advocates, as well as the continued suffering of millions of North Koreans at the hands of the DPRK government. This year’s North Korea Freedom Week culminates in the Republic of Korea’s North Korean Defector Day on July 14. In recognition of the critical role escapees play in advancing North Korean human rights, the U.S. reaffirms our commitment to supporting a survivor-centered approach to accountability and amplifying defector voices.
The regime continues to exploit its citizens, including through forced labor, and divert resources from the country’s people to advance its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. Ruthless crackdowns on foreign media and continuing rise in the number of public executions, including of youth, have heightened an environment of fear and repression. The United States continues to call on all countries to uphold non-refoulement obligations and to protect North Korean asylum seekers. We remain committed to highlighting the egregious human rights violations and abuses happening in the DPRK and to working with allies and partners to promote human rights, accountability, and access to information.