IRFBA – the Article 18 Alliance Chair Statement Tenth Year of the Arbitrary Detention of Choi Chun-gilin the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

This month marks 10th year of Missionary Choi Chun-gil’s arbitrary detention by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Republic of Korea (ROK) Missionary Choi Chun-gil was unlawfully arrested and forcibly detained by the North Korean authorities in December 2014 and sentenced to life with hard labor in June 2015. Currently there are six South Koreans in detention in the DPRK, including three ROK missionaries, who have spent a combined 31 years without their freedom: Choi Chun-gil, Kim Jung-wook, and Kim Kook-kie.

The DPRK systemically violates and abuses the human rights of detained individuals, and has a longstanding practice of unjustly and arbitrarily detaining missionaries, which is a blatant attempt to deny freedom of religion or belief.

I strongly condemn DPRK authorities for sentencing the missionaries without a fair and public trial by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal; the failure to provide basic procedural justice upon arrest and during detention; and the continued arbitrary detention of these missionaries, including Choi Chun-gil.

I strongly urge the DPRK, as a party to multiple major international human rights treaties, to immediately and unconditionally release the missionaries – and all those subjected to unjust or arbitrary detention – so that they may reunite with their families who eagerly wait for them in the ROK.

As a Chair of IRFBA – the Article 18 Alliance, I pledge to continue to advocating for freedom of religion or belief for all people, including those unjustly detained in the DPRK, as well as those around the world in prison for their deeply held religious beliefs or affiliation.