Attended an event of the Israel Allies Foundation, to which President Trump was invited
Also urged the repatriation of the remains of Korean War POWs, U.S. and UN forces killed in action.
Ma Young-ae, President of the International North Korea Human Rights Alliance, delivered two significant messages to U.S. President Donald Trump, urging the resolution of North Korean human rights issues, at the ‘IAF Gala Awards Dinner’ hosted by the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF) in Washington D.C., USA, on the 11th (local time).
The issues she requested were: cessation of forced repatriation of North Korean defectors residing in China and Southeast Asian countries, and repatriation of the remains of Korean War POWs, U.S. soldiers, and UN forces killed in action who remain in North Korea.
This event was an international high-profile fundraising gala aimed at networking and supporting pro-Israel political and religious leaders worldwide. This year, President Trump served as the host and honoree, drawing significant international attention. Over 650 attendees, including Israeli politicians, academics, legal professionals, and U.S. political and business figures, made the event a great success, with key figures such as U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaking on the podium.
Although President Trump could not attend in person due to an urgent matter related to Venezuela and instead delivered a live video message, the requests and messages from attendees were officially collected through senior White House aides. It is understood that President Ma’s request regarding North Korean human rights was also conveyed to the Presidential Office through this channel.
President Ma was not only invited to this event in her capacity as a Doctor of Sacred Music (Christianity) but also attended representing the office of New Jersey State Assemblyman Robert Auth (Republican) as the Korean outreach officer. She received an official appointment letter from Assemblyman Auth on March 1, 2023, and has since been serving as a bridge connecting the U.S. Congress, the Korean-American community, and human rights issues.
Forced Repatriation of North Korean Defectors: “A systematic human rights crime committed by the state.”
The issue President Ma most strongly raised was China’s forced repatriation of North Korean defectors. She pointed out, “Currently, 300,000 to 400,000 North Korean defectors are living in hiding in China and Southeast Asian countries, and approximately 10,000 defectors are forcibly repatriated to North Korea by Chinese authorities each year.”
The international community has already confirmed that forcibly repatriated North Korean defectors face extreme human rights abuses in North Korea, including imprisonment in political prison camps, torture, and public execution.
President Ma appealed, “China’s forced repatriation of North Korean defectors is a crime against humanity that directly violates the Refugee Convention and the Convention Against Torture.” She pleaded, “President Trump is the only international leader who can directly communicate with and pressure President Xi Jinping.” She emphasized, “If it is you, Mr. President, you can solve this problem, and it will be a decision that saves hundreds of thousands of lives.”
Remains of Korean War Veterans: A War Not Yet Over
The second message concerned the repatriation of the remains of Korean War veterans. President Ma stated, “The remains of U.S. soldiers, Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and UN forces who participated in the war are still scattered across North Korean territory.” She added, “The war has ended, but the suffering of the families has not.”
This issue is deeply connected to President Ma’s personal life. As the wife of a Korean War POW, she has experienced the pain of those who were captured and never returned to their homeland more vividly than anyone else. President Ma requested, “President Trump, please strongly demand the repatriation of remains from the Kim Jong Un regime.” She emphasized, “This is not a matter of political bargaining, but one of human dignity and historical justice.”
A Singular Path for North Korean Human Rights: From Defector to International Human Rights Activist
President Ma is a human rights activist who has dedicated decades since her defection to advocating for the human rights of North Korean residents and defectors. She has served as the U.S. Representative of the North Korean Refugees Human Rights Association, Representative of the North Korean Defectors Mission in the Americas, and President of the New York National Salvation Comrades Association, continuing her activities in defector relief, resettlement support, and reporting to the international community. In particular, she has been at the forefront of raising awareness about the reality of North Korean human rights among political, religious, and civil society circles in the United States and Europe.
Her activities have been officially recognized by U.S. political circles. In December 2018, President Ma received the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from President Donald Trump. The plaque at the time bore the inscription: “We thank you for your continued dedication in serving your community and the American people. We trust that you will continue to serve and dedicate yourself to a stronger future for America and its people.” This effectively means the U.S. government officially recognized that North Korean human rights activism is synonymous with upholding the values of freedom and democracy.
During Trump’s first term, President Ma was invited to Mar-a-Lago, the presidential residence. In his second term, she has continued to communicate with President Trump, including invitations to visit Trump Tower and attend his inauguration. She states, “It is rare in the Korean-American community for someone to have met President Trump directly multiple times to discuss North Korean human rights as much as I have.”
Taegeukgi Hanbok: A Symbol for Raising Awareness of North Korean Human Rights
At this IAF Gala, President Ma entered the venue wearing a Hanbok adorned with the Taegeukgi pattern. Along with Director Heo Young-cheol, who produced the North Korean human rights film ‘Dotori,’ and Son Myung-hwa, a representative of Korean War POWs, she informed U.S. political, business, and academic figures about the reality of North Korean human rights and appealed for international cooperation.
President Ma stated, “Ma Young-ae, a North Korean defector who escaped the land of dictatorship, and Ma Young-ae, a daughter of Chungcheong embraced by free South Korea, entered the U.S. presidential event venue wearing a Taegeukgi Hanbok.” She added, “This attire is my identity and my testimony for North Korean human rights.”
She concluded by emphasizing:
“The issue of North Korean human rights is neither ideology nor politics. It is a matter of life and conscience. The international community must no longer remain silent on saving North Korean defectors and returning war heroes to their homes.”
*The official website of the International North Korea Human Rights Alliance (President Ma Young-ae), formally authorized by the U.S. federal government, has been officially launched. https://www.inkhrausa.org
