[imText1]The Citizen’s Alliance for North Korean Human Rights recently published a book called “Child is King of the Country,” which closely investigates the children of North Korea’s human rights and schooling.
The book has been released in Korean and English. The English version, in particular, was named after a North Korean publication which was released by the North Korean authorities for propaganda purposes and is sold over e-Bay to foreigners.
Based on in-depth interviews with 40 defector youths and 10 adults who all defected between 2001 and 2008, the book compares the state of North Korean children’s human rights as noted by international organizations including the United Nations, and the North Korean state’s official position.
In particular, the contents of the book were circulated as key materials at the 50th United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which was held in Geneva, Switzerland on January 23rd, 2009. The Citizens’ Alliance explained that it has also been used as a reference for figuring out North Korea’s internal situation by international nongovernmental organizations and agencies under the auspices of the UN.
This book reveals how humanitarian aid like pulp for text books, medicines and other things from international society flowed into black markets. Additionally, it shows how the citizens of North Korea have been put at risk, for example in 2001, when an outbreak of mad cow disease arose in Europe, the German government slaughtered massive numbers of cows in order to stabilize meat markets, and gave them to North Korea.
The illustration for the book’s cover is called “A Work of Loyalty (2007),” depicting a little girl putting a good shine on photos of the Leader from the top of layered chairs. The work was donated by renowned artist Sun Moo, known also as the “faceless defector artist.”
Lee Young Hwan, manager of the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, said, “This book is an invaluable document which allows a detailed understanding of the human rights situation of North Korean children. We hope that many will take an interest in it.”
