Liberty in North Korea

}}

}}

'''Liberty in North Korea''' ('''LiNK''') is a [[501(c)(3) organization|501(c)(3)]] nonprofit organization registered in [[Long Beach, California]], United States. It maintains an office in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]. The organization rescues [[North Korean defectors|refugees]] hiding in [[China]] and resettles them in South Korea or the United States, so that they can avoid being forcibly [[repatriated]] back to North Korea, where they can face harsh punishments. The refugees first travel from China to [[Southeast Asia]] through what the organization calls an "[[Underground Railroad]]", and then on to South Korea where they are recognized as refugees.

'''Liberty in North Korea''' ('''LiNK''') is a [[501(c)(3) organization|501(c)(3)]] nonprofit organization registered in [[Long Beach, California]], [[United States]]. It maintains an office in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]. The organization rescues [[North Korean defectors|refugees]] hiding in [[China]] and resettles them in South Korea or the United States, so that they can avoid being forcibly [[repatriated]] back to North Korea, where they can face harsh punishments. The refugees first travel from China to [[Southeast Asia]] through what the organization calls an "[[Underground Railroad]]", and then on to South Korea where they are recognized as refugees.

LiNK also seeks to [[raise awareness]] of [[human rights]] issues in North Korea through media production, conducting research, and through tours. Having sprung out of Korean-American student activism at universities in the United States, the organization grew rapidly and produced several feature-length documentaries, as well as TED talks by its leaders and rescuees. The organization now has a Research & Strategy department based in Seoul, that conducts research on North Korean issues with an emphasis on human rights issues. The organization positions itself as different from governmental positions and media narratives that focus on the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear weapons program and other national security issues, focusing instead on refugees who were considered [[economic migrant]]s by the Chinese government and who risked repatriation.{{cite web|url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/explaining-north-korean-migration-to-china|title=Explaining North Korean Migration to China|date=26 September 2012 |publisher=Wilson Center|access-date=2014-11-05}} LiNK provides support to resettlement programs for North Koreans beyond those provided by the South Korean government.

LiNK also seeks to [[raise awareness]] of [[human rights]] issues in North Korea through media production, conducting research, and through tours. Having sprung out of Korean-American student activism at universities in the United States, the organization grew rapidly and produced several feature-length documentaries, as well as TED talks by its leaders and rescuees. The organization now has a Research & Strategy department based in Seoul, that conducts research on North Korean issues with an emphasis on human rights issues. The organization positions itself as different from governmental positions and media narratives that focus on the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear weapons program and other national security issues, focusing instead on refugees who were considered [[economic migrant]]s by the Chinese government and who risked repatriation.{{cite web|url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/explaining-north-korean-migration-to-china|title=Explaining North Korean Migration to China|date=26 September 2012 |publisher=Wilson Center|access-date=2014-11-05}} LiNK provides support to resettlement programs for North Koreans beyond those provided by the South Korean government.