Who are we?
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Midwest Alliance for North Korean Refugees is a Minnesota-based non-profit organization created in 2015 out of a deep commitment for the freedom of North Korean refugees. We engage in education about the plight of the refugees and advocate for their full freedom. We care deeply about the protection and promotion of their rights. Though based in Minnesota, we are expanding the base of support throughout the Midwest region of the United States.
Our organization does not provide financial assistance to North Korean refugees, yet we partner with individuals and organizations who are also working in the area of education and advocacy. We welcome you to this important life-giving work! Please contact us to get involved. |
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"This is a truly important issue - important for global stability, important for the Korean people, and important for the cause of global human rights."
- Hyon Kim, Founder
Midwest Alliance for North Korean Refugees
Midwest Alliance for North Korean Refugees
We are inspired by their lives.
We are amazed at the courage and resilience of so many men, women, and children who are seeking freedom and wholeness in the midst of tragic human rights violations of the government of North Korea.
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“The first time I escaped from North Korea was in 1998. Three times, I was caught and sent back to North Korea by the Chinese government. After the third time, I was in a North Korean prison for a year. In 2002, I escaped North Korea for good. After that I had to live in hiding in China for five years. I have so many painful memories of these times."
- An Anonymous North Korean Refugee, April 2016 |
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"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds:
Your mind transcends limitations,
your consciousness expands in every direction,
and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world.”
Your mind transcends limitations,
your consciousness expands in every direction,
and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world.”
- Patanjali
The facts:
An Estimated 200,000North Korean defectors have escaped the poverty and oppression of their government, hoping to reach safety in South Korea. To do so, these stateless people must undertake hazardous treks through China and other countries.
Many Never Make It...Across miles of Gobi desert, mountains and similarly treacherous terrain for even a chance at diplomatic immunity.
Women and Children...
Make up to an estimated 70 percent of North Koreans seeking exile. All are vulnerable to opportunists, most females are forced into human trafficking, slavery and other crimes. If caught by Chinese authorities, these refugees have no claim to diplomatic asylum. They are deported immediately to North Korea, where they often face torture or imprisonment. |
Click on the map markers below to learn more about the journey. |