Tuesday, November 3, 2009
“Letters from America”: A Special Program for U.S.-Americans
Take Action Now. Speak to North Koreans. Share what you think about North Korea and Kim Jong-Il.
Letters from America and What American Leaders Think of Kim Jong-Il are two programs established by the Defense Forum Foundation in 2008. These programs broadcast letters written by U.S.-Americans into North Korea through Free North Korea Radio (the only defector-managed radio station broadcasting into the DPRK).
As the vilification of U.S.-America is ingrained in North Korean life through state education and government propaganda, these programs aim to change the perceptions that North Koreans have about U.S.-America and -Americans, to relay the deep concern that U.S.-Americans have for the people of North Korea, and to challenge the truth of Kim Jong Il’s regime. For example, as the North Korean government misrepresents foreign aid; North Koreans do not know that the U.S. and the international community have sent billions of dollars of humanitarian aid to help North Korea avoid mass-starvation and death. With regard to U.S. policy, North Koreans do not know that U.S. Congress has passed two pieces of legislation (in 2004 and 2008) that promote human rights for North Koreans.
Free North Korea Radio is now broadcasting Letters from America. Free North Korea Radio broadcasts 5 hours daily into North Korea, early in the morning and late in the evening when North Koreans have the best chance to listen to the broadcasts. FNKR broadcasts information about conditions outside of North Korea and the true history of the two Koreas in efforts to disseminate information about freedom, democracy, and human rights to the North Korean people. Letters from America will be read out loud, recorded, translated into Korean, and broadcast into North Korea.
Take Action Now by speaking to North Koreans and sharing what you think about North Korea and Kim Jong-Il. Letters from America may be submitted to the Defense Forum Foundation through North Korea Now. Please submit letters and questions to Jack Kwon at: jack.kwon@northkoreanow.org. Sample letters are below.
Click here for more information on the Defense Forum Foundation.
Click here for CNN’s Profile on Free North Korea Radio.
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Sample Letters from America: Below are a few sample letters selected by staff from Free North Korea Radio. Comments from FNKR staff explain why these letters are some of their favorites out of the hundreds of letters that have been submitted thus far.
Dear People of North Korea,
My name is Becky and I live in Ohio which is in the middle of the United States. My sister and brother-in-law adopted an orphan boy from South Korea over 20 years ago. He is as much a part of our family as their birth children. But because of where he was born I have a special place in my heart for all Korean people. It is very sad to see on the television and watch the videos of what Kim Jong-il has done to your country. I have read of food and medicine that is sent to you but he is preventing you from getting it. The leader of any people should have the people’s best interest at heart and that is not the case where you are. We have much prosperity in our country and we have problems, too, but the one thing we have that is more valuable than anything is our freedom. We have freedom to come and go as we please, we have freedom to worship as we want, we have plenty to eat and wonderful medical help. These things should be for all people in the world. It is our prayer that you will have wonderful freedoms in your country, too. We care about what is happening to you and are doing everything we can to make people aware that you should have freedom.
Love from your friend Becky in Ohio
FNKR Staff (a North Korean defector) comment: “I liked Becky’s letter best because it showed how clearly she disliked Kim Jong-il. There are even South Koreans who have a strange affection to this dictator. Many don’t distinguish between Kim Jong-il and the NK people. However Becky said Kim Jong-il is our enemy, while we have to help and save the people of North Korea.”
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Dear North Koreans,
My name is Hope and I’m from the state of Pennsylvania in the United States of America. We know that many of you do not have enough food and that you can be imprisoned for listening to this broadcast or for being a Christian. I heard of one elderly man who sang a Japanese song and a neighbor reported him to authorities. That elderly grandfather, his children, and grandchildren were all taken to prison just for singing a Japanese song. That story and others like it make me cry for you and ask the God who made the earth and skies to comfort you.
There are North Korean children whose parents have died and they have no one to take care of them. I am trying, with God’s help, to bring these children into families so they will have food, a bed to sleep in, a good education, and new parents who love them.
The Korean War happened so long ago, that most young people do not think of it at all anymore. It is just one more war in their history books. The United States should have helped you become free so that, like South Korea, you would have food, jobs, nice houses, and schools for your children. Did you know that most people in South Korea and the United States have plenty of food. People like me in the United States want you to have plenty of food and freedom.
Finally, I want to say that I know you are a strong, vibrant people and I want to honor you for your strength and the way you have held onto the hope for a better life someday. We Americans are holding onto that same hope. Even though we are told that you hate us. You should know that we love you and care about you.
From your friend, Hope in Pennsylvania, USA
FNKR STAFF (a North Korean defector) Comment: Dear Hope in Pennsylvania. My father was arrested in North Korea because he was an underground Christian. I fled from NK to continue my father’s dream. I cried too when I read your letter. If only my father can hear this program! Please keep sending these letters. I will work nights and days on this program.
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CITIZENS OF NORTH KOREA:
Fifty eight years ago, I was a young infantry officer in the Korean War. When I departed that war torn nation, I questioned how South Korea could survive…Today, South Korea stands as a democracy, and is the eleventh largest economy in the world. I am proud to have served in the cause of South Korean freedom
South Korea’s success rests on it’s smart and hard working people. North Korea has the same people…..They too can achieve great national pride and accomplishment……when North and South Korea peacefully unite and everyone in North Korea has the same freedom as South Korea. I hope that day comes soon so that North Korea can be as prosperous as South Korea.
From Ed a former United States Marine Captain who fought for South Korea to be free
FNKR STAFF (a North Korean defector): I liked the letter from Ed, the ex-marine captain. North Korean people will be shocked to learn a U.S. marine sent a letter through defectors-run radio program! Truth matters most in our program, but the person who wrote this letter matters also. Thank you.
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Hello.
My name is Kristine and I live in Virginia and my home is not far from the Capitol of America, Washington DC. I just want you to know that I am thinking about you all the time. God blessed me with three sons and I have taught my sons about North Korea and how the children are starving. I have taught my sons that they should always help people that are suffering. Most Americans teach their children these things because our country has so much prosperity and wealth.
Sometimes when I am making dinner for my three sons, I think about the North Korean mothers who are trying desperately to feed their children. I cannot imagine how hard it is for these mothers who do not have enough food to give their children that they love so much. My heart aches when I think about this and sometimes I cry. You probably think this is silly because I do not know you and I live on the other side of the world. But dear people in North Korea, you need to know this is how Americans think. My parents taught me to care about other people and now I am teaching my sons the same thing.
Did you know that we have so much food in the United States that we send millions and millions of tons of food to wherever people are hungry – all over this world. We tried to send food to every single person in North Korea who was hungry. But North Korean people still starved. And then we found out that Kim Jong-il was keeping the food for himself and his loyal followers. You need to know that Americans care deeply about the people of North Korea, but we do not like Kim Jong-il. We think he is the worst dictator in the whole world because of how he hurts the people in North Korea. We hope one day you will have freedom because if you look around the world all the people who have freedom also have plenty of food to share.
I will be thinking about you.
Your Friend Kristine in Virginia.
FNKR STAFF (a North Korean defector) COMMENT: I want to respond to the letter from Kristine which touched my heart. I read that she tells her three children not to forget the North Korean children and she prays for the children in North Korea. I can hardly believe there are such people in the United States who pray for North Koreans, not too many North Koreans will believe what they hear but if we keep sending messages like this, someday they will understand and believe what Americans are. We have to work with conviction. I am in charge of sending the messages from the US to NK. I promise I will do my best!
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OTHER LETTERS SELECTED BY THE FREE NORTH KOREA STAFF AS THEIR FAVORITES FROM THE LETTERS FROM AMERICA PROGRAM
Dear North Koreans:
I am an American writing you from America, but I was born in Ulsan, South Korea. My parents are from Ghimhae, GhangWonDo, north of the DMZ. My family owned several mountains and a lot of land. And we were Christians. So all our property was confiscated and even the first potato harvest my father grew after they were kicked out of their house was confiscated by the Communist party. So, my grandfather finally agreed to move down to South Korea. When my family moved down, they lost everything because they were caught the first time. But all along, they trusted God throughout their lives. Now, we all live in America and are very blessed. We went through so much hardship. My older sister still talks about how she and the family only drank pine bark boiled water for meals because they didn’t have anything to eat. I still do not like to eat flour noodle because that was the only thing we ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a long time. When I and my brothers and sisters were young, we couldn’t afford to eat rice, but only noodles. My father used to comfort us saying that we would be as tall as Americans because we were eating noodles.
I know that your hardship is much worse than what my family went through. But all we had was a hope in God then and even now. I have raised my four children for last 16 years with God’s help because my husband left me when my 4 children were between 2 and 8 years of age. Thank God, my youngest one just graduated from High School with all ‘A’s. One son graduated from college two years ago and two are still in college. I have done nothing but trust God and He carried us through. You are my sisters and brother not just because of our Korean blood. I feel linked to you very strongly. And I won’t forget your suffering. I will continue to pray for you until all North Korean can be free.
God’s love to you,
From your Korean American sister, Song
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DEAR PEOPLE OF NORTH KOREA:
My name is Lisa and I live in the state of Tennessee, which is in the Southern part of the United States of America. I have been reading so many stories, watching videos and hearing much about the suffering in North Korea. I have such a burden in my heart for all of you; my children and I pray for you every day. However, we want to do more than pray. So, at the church I attend there is a group of us who are organizing a human rights campaign to bring awareness to the terrible conditions the North Koreans are suffering. I have already spoken at a few churches and to small groups. I am also scheduled to be on a radio program talking to hundreds of people about the many North Koreans who have escaped to China and are not being helped. My friends and I are trying to collect 500 signatures for a petition to be sent to the Chinese embassy telling them to stop repatriating North Korean refugees. God Bless you and know that your American friends will not forget you and we will keep working to help you get freedom, food and medicine for you and your children.
From your friend Lisa in Tennessee
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To my friends in North Korea:
I am an American military officer. I served in South Korea recently for almost 6 years and I have visited both borders of your country – the DMZ and your border with China. I have read many reports about what is going
on in your country. Do you know what I learned while I lived in Korea? I learned that most people in North Korea have little food and many have starved to death. I learned that the people of North Korea have no freedom. You cannot travel freely. You cannot listen to news and information freely. You cannot worship God freely. Why? All because of the total control of your leaders who do not care about you but would rather see you die of starvation than lose power themselves. I know that the food and medicine the United States sends to the people of North Korea is seized by Kim Jong-Il and given to his friends and his followers.
I want you to know that the American Military wants the people of North Korea to be free, to have food and to become a great nation. All the Korean people, both North and South, are wonderful, courageous, and strong. I now have many friends from North Korea who escaped and are now living in freedom. They are my close friends. I love them and I have come to love and respect the people of North Korea. Even though I am an American military officer, you are not my enemy! I pray we can share a meal together one day soon. I pray for your leaders to change so that you can be free. Do not believe the lies that I am evil and want to harm you. I have sworn an oath to defend freedom with my life and the US Military is proving this mission by serving in other countries that also need help and food and freedom. To the people of North Korea-you are our friends. We will do what ever we can to help you.
From John, a US Military officer in Los Angeles, California
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Dear North Koreans:
Hello, this is your friend Kristine from Virginia. Just recently my youngest son who is 8 years old had his birthday. So for a surprise I took a bunch of cupcakes to his school for all his classmates to have as a special treat during their lunch break. I got to sit and have lunch with them and we sang Happy Birthday together to my son. Then, I gave each of his class mates a cupcake. When I looked around the table at all the food the children in his class had to eat for lunch, it made me think about the North Korean children that are starving. Most of the children in my son’s class could not eat all the food their mothers and fathers had made for them, and it made me sad to watch them throw away the food they did not eat for lunch.
When I left the school to go back home, I started to cry and I could not stop crying. I cried and cried all the way back to my home wishing that I could have swept up all the left over food into my arms and give it to the children in North Korea that are hungry. I know this sounds very silly to you, but this is how Americans think. We have great compassion for people who are suffering. We like to share what we have. I just want you to know that we are thinking of you and we care about you.
Love, from your friend, Kristine in Virginia
