North Korea Freedom Coalition

28/10/2026

🇬🇷 OXI DAY | October 28, 2026

Today, as we commemorate OXI Day, the North Korea Freedom Coalition is honored to pay tribute to the people of Greece, whose bravery and courage helped change the course of history and contributed to the eventual defeat of N**i Germany.

At a time when Hi**er appeared unstoppable, the Greeks proved otherwise and gave hope to the world.

As we continue our work for the freedom and human rights of the North Korean people, we renew our hope today by remembering the courage of the Greeks, who demonstrated that evil dictatorships must be brought to an end.

Suzanne Scholte
Chair, North Korea Freedom Coalition

https://oxidayfoundation.org/the-story-of-oxi-day/

Learn the story of OXI Day, when the Greek's courage led to the first Axis invasion defeat of WWII and helped change the course of the war.

22/09/2026

SAVE NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES DAY
September 22, 2026 | Washington, D.C.

Remarks by Kenji Sawai
Senior Program Specialist, Freedom and Human Rights
Global Peace Foundation

Since the mid-1990s, North Koreans have risked their lives to escape North Korea by crossing the Tumen and Yalu rivers. Driven by terrible hunger, poverty, and an oppressive government, these individuals leave everything behind just to survive.

Tens of thousands remain trapped, hidden, and hunted inside China. They live in constant fear, without legal rights or human dignity, knowing they could be caught at any moment.

The Chinese government labels these individuals as “illegal economic migrants” instead of political refugees. By treating a massive humanitarian crisis as a simple border issue, Chinese authorities actively hunt down, arrest, and force these escapees back to North Korea. Chinese residents receive a $500 reward for reporting a North Korean escapee, while those who help escapees face a $3,600 penalty.

Because of a 1986 agreement with North Korea, China puts political considerations ahead of universal human rights. North Korean escapees have no legal protection. Even local churches, missionary organizations, and civic groups that help them are being suppressed.

However, international law is clear. China is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention. Under this treaty, a refugee is someone with a well-founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

This denial of refugee status violates international human rights law and ignores global moral responsibilities.

The North Korean government views leaving the country without permission as a serious crime against the state. Because of this, returned escapees are treated as political criminals. They face brutal questioning, torture, long prison sentences in forced labor camps, and even public ex*****on. Their fear of punishment is real, meaning they qualify for international refugee protection.

Furthermore, international law strictly forbids returning anyone to a country where they will face torture or death. These obligations cannot be set aside by domestic laws or bilateral agreements.

We must also highlight that most of these refugees are women who are targeted by human trafficking networks. Many have started families with Chinese citizens, but they are not allowed to legally marry or register their households. When a mother is captured and sent back on a bus with blocked windows, families are torn apart. Their children are left without access to public schools, healthcare, and basic legal identity documents.

China must stop putting politics first, fulfill its responsibilities as a leader in the United Nations, and stop forcing North Korean escapees back.

Let us stand together to ensure that freedom and human life prevail over state violence.

21/09/2026

Your voice is heard. Your actions matter.

As we prepare for Save North Korean Refugees Day on September 22, 2026, Suzanne Scholte shares a heartfelt message of thanks and encouragement to our coordinators and participants around the world.

✍️ Add your voice: Sign our petition asking President Trump to raise China’s forced repatriation of North Korean refugees with Xi Jinping.
https://nkfc.link/TrumpPetition

A MESSAGE FROM SUZANNE SCHOLTE
Thanks and Encouragement to Our City and Country Coordinators

SAVE NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES DAY
September 22, 2026

Dear Colleagues:

Thank you so much to Gallous Asong Atabongwoung, Jones Chamangwana, Mikko Heikkonen, Ji-Young Kim, Richard Kim, Tae-hoon Kim, Kyung B. Lee, Pastor Star Lee, Sally Jo Messersmith, Rand Miller, Jacqui Park, James Park, Brother Adalberto Santiago, Dr. Gregory Stanton, and those who have to remain anonymous, for volunteering to be our city and country coordinators for September 22’s Save North Korean Refugees Day as we use our voice and freedom to stand up for those who have no voice and no freedom.

I am writing to share some encouragement for all who will join us on Tuesday because we know that we will confront indifference and hostility from the People’s Republic of China’s Communist government as they know full well the horrors North Koreans face when they are forcefully sent back to North Korea.

Even though the PRC will hire extra security at their embassies and consulates to refuse to accept our letters or shut off their faxes and block email submissions, they will know of these attempts. We are simply asking the CCP to abide by their own treaty commitments, and they will know that someone like you cared enough about this issue to try to reach out.

Furthermore, the actions will be reported back to Beijing, so never think that your voice has not been heard. I remember wondering over the years whether our attempts made any difference, and I can share with you that they absolutely do and for several other reasons.

First, Free North Korea Radio, VOA, and RFA and other media entities will report about Save North Korean Refugees Day which means North Koreans will hear about this whether they are suffering in North Korea or are suffering in China.

I remember vividly when two North Korean women told me on separate occasions that when they had been trafficked and were living in abusive relationships in China, they contemplated su***de. The only thing that made them change their minds were when they heard that people were protesting at the Chinese embassies about China’s treatment of North Korean refugees.

When they heard those reports, they knew they were not suffering alone, someone cared about them!

Second, because North Koreans live in such isolation from the outside world, it touches their hearts deeply when they see that people in the world care about them.

I will never forget how the North Korean defectors reacted to hearing Brother Adalberto Santiago pray for them in Spanish and Gallous Atabongwoung pray for them in Sepedi during last April’s North Korea Freedom Week. It was shocking to them, but deeply moving, as they had no idea people cared so much about them from all over the world!

Third, we know from meetings with Chinese authorities and police in the border regions, that the Chinese people do not want to send North Koreans back to North Korea, but they have no choice except to carry out the orders from the CCP in Beijing.

Finally, we know that the PRC is sensitive about this issue because the last sizable number of repatriations occurred on October 9, 2023, just after the Asian games and just two days after Hamas attacked Israel. Many of us believe the timing was such because the PRC does not want the world to know what they are doing and would be focused on the conflict in Israel at that time.

So, be encouraged and know that we are all acting in solidarity for a noble and just reason to save the lives of children, women, and men.

Remember to take photos depicting your actions, especially if your delivery is being made in person to the PRC embassy or consulate.

Many blessing and thanks and

ACTA NON VERBA,

Suzanne

18/09/2026

Your voice and participation can make a difference in Save North Korean Refugees Day 2026.

Save North Korean Refugees Day, organized annually by the North Korea Freedom Coalition since 2009, raises awareness about North Korean refugees facing forced repatriation from China and calls for their safe passage.

This year, those who wish to participate can take action in two ways:

1. Sign the NKFC Online Petition
The petition asks President Trump to raise the issue of the forced repatriation of North Korean refugees with Xi Jinping.

👉 Sign the petition:
https://nkfc.link/TrumpPetition

2. Send an Appeal to a Chinese Embassy or Consulate
Participants may send a letter of appeal to Xi Jinping using one of the two templates below:

Full Version – NKFC Letterhead📄

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TDAA2kky_SCDAP_8uTSvjaAwf4MwTCJp/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=110434526187165938147&rtpof=true&sd=true

Full Version – Without NKFC Letterhead📄

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_MZXCarbWv8vROXET2NR-lU7FY5H4faw/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=110434526187165938147&rtpof=true&sd=true

Organizations may submit the letter under their own NGO name or use the NKFC letter as provided.

Save North Korean Refugees Day 2026 will be observed on September 22. Those interested may also participate in local rallies or prayer vigils and share information about the campaign.

For questions or information about participating, please contact:
📧 [email protected]

20/03/2025

Join us at 6:30pm for our annual UN CSW event featuring the testimony of the RESCUERS, the heroic individuals engaged in saving thousands of North Korean Refugees and bringing them to freedom and safety!

An esteemed panel of individuals who have helped rescue thousands of North Koreans will describe the conditions in North Korea that lead people to want to es...

14/03/2023

Join us now for "North Korean Escapees: Current Situation and What Must Be Done” featuring the testimonies of three North Korean women.

You are cordially invited to join the Defense Forum Foundation’s Congressional Defense and Foreign Policy Forum online as we host three brave and inspiring women who escaped from North Korea. Two …