Can We Save This Man?

A 43-year-old political prisoner in North Korea is expected to be executed this weekend, and human rights groups in Seoul and around the world are trying to save the man’s life.

In Seoul, 23 South Korean human rights groups yesterday submitted a petition to the National Human Rights Commission. They are seeking its assistance to stop the execution of Son Jeong-nam, who is being detained in Pyongyang by the North Korean State Security Department, said his younger brother, Jeong-hun, who defected to the South in 2002.

Son Jeong-hun said at a news conference earlier this month that North Korean authorities announced that his brother will be publicly executed for “betraying the nation.”

The brothers met each other in China in 2004. After Son Jeong-nam returned to the North, he was arrested and accused of providing information about rights abuses by the North Korean regime to his South Korean brother.

Link here. At the outset, I’ll say that we probably can’t, and that we ought to try anyway. Please send three quick e-mails; one to your Congressman and one to each Senator. While you’re at it, please ask your Senators about House Concurrent Resolution 168, which deals with those abducted by North Korea. It’s been stalled in the Senate for a year now.