FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2002

Contact: 
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27
 

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent government agency advising the Administration and Congress, announced today the addition of Mrs. Soon-Ok Lee, a North Korean defector, to the list of witnesses to testify before the Commission Thursday. Mrs. Lee witnessed brutal treatment of Christians in North Korean labor camps. Her testimony will take place during the Commission's hearing on "Promoting Religious Freedom in North Korea." The hearing will examine religious persecution in North Korea and explore policy options for the U.S. government to improve the situation of religious people there. The hearing is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. January 24 in the Longworth House Office Building, Room 1302, Washington, D.C.

The confirmed witnesses and schedule are as follows:

9:00-9:15 Welcome and Introductory Remarks by Michael K. Young, Chair

Panel I:

9:15-10:15  Religious Freedom Conditions in North Korea

Norbert Vollertsen, former volunteer medical doctor in the DPRK

Sang-Chul Kim, Secretary General, Commission to Help North Korean Refugees

Soon-Ok Lee, North Korean defector and author of Eyes of the Tailless Animals

10:15-10:30 Break

Panel II:

10:30-12:00 U.S. Policy Options for North Korea

Stephen Linton, Chairman, Eugene Bell Foundation

Donald Oberdorfer, Adjunct Professor, SAIS, Johns Hopkins University

Chuck Downs, Private consultant and author of Over the Lines

Jack Rendler, Vice Chairman, U.S. Committee on Human Rights in North Korea