Speaker Kyle Johnson addresses UND students on Oct. 12.

Liberty in North Korea, a non-profit organization, held a meeting Monday afternoon at UND. The meeting outlined the struggles North Korean people face as well as how Liberty in North Korea intends to help alleviate these problems.

The organization has provided assistance to more than 400 North Korean refugees during the 3,000-mile journey to safety in America. It also provides assistance to help refugees overcome resettlement challenges once they have reached a new home.

This is all provided by the organization with no condition or cost to the refugees. It also provides opportunities to North Koreans such as studying abroad, tutoring and providing career mentorship.

The event opened with a brief presentation describing the way the world views North Korea,
saying the way media portrays North Korea leads the public to only see the regime in North Korea and not the people of North Korea.

“This stops the ordinary North Korean from getting the help and support they need and deserve,” said Drake Reiland, a speaker, or “nomad,” with Liberty in North Korea. “The people of North Korea are ordinary people, just like you and me. The only difference is that they live under one of the most oppressive governments in the world today.”

The organization aims to redefine the way the world sees North Korea, “so its people can get the international support that they need,”

The North Korean government is known to censor foreign media and ideas, telling its people that they are meant to corrupt them.

Recently, as more and more foreign media is smuggled into North Korea, the government has implemented a crackdown on media, arresting and punishing those who are found in possession of it.

According to Liberty in North Korea, refugees send $10 – 15 million dollars back to friends and family each year. Drake also described how the North Korean government is merciless when punishing dissention among its people, making it difficult for North Koreans to revolt against it.

Drake also explained that North Korean refugees face resettlement issues after completing a rescue journey, attributing this to North Korea being behind technologically, socially and economically when compared to countries like South Korea and the United States.

Liberty in North Korea provides educational, financial, and career assistance to allow for an refugees become self sufficient. The presentation closed by explaining ways that people could help the organization and the North Korean people.

Liberty in North Korea has internship and jobs opportunities for those interested in becoming a part of the organization. The organization also offers the opportunity to become a “nomad”, like Drake. This would entail traveling across North America to engage and educate communities and schools about the North Korean people and the work that Liberty in North Korea does. The organization also accepts donations, which go toward the various programs to provide assistance to North Korean refugees.

Elliot Golden is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected]