Page 45 - NKHR Hawaii Conference 2023

Even though it was a congressional mandate with congressional funding. I see that as a
real missed opportunity.

It’s a high crime to leave North Korea, so to leave North Korea is a step toward
undermining the regime. If you look at who’s on the top of North Korea’s assassination
list, it is defectors who are speaking out. T ey publish a public assassination list and it’s
made up of those who have left North Korea and are speaking out. T ey know too much
and they feel that they seem like a big threat to the North Korean regime. T ere is an
opportunity as people leave North Korea to gain greater evidence, to hear their stories, to
care about it, and to move forward with action.

NORTH KOREAN HUMAN RIGHTS HAWAII CONFERENCE 2023 45