USCIRF Urges State Department To Press North Korea On Religious and Human Rights

With the recent death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom this week wrote Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (full text of letter) urging the U.S. to press North Korea on human rights and religious freedom issues.  The letter reads in part:

The death of Kim Jong Il provides an important opening for clear U.S. leadership.... The growth of religion in North Korea continues to be a perceived threat to the legitimacy of the North Korean ruling family, including the chosen successor Kim Jong Un.  Anyone discovered engaging in clandestine religious activity is subject to discrimination, arrest, arbitrary detention, disappearance, torture, and public execution.... We urge the Administration to clearly signal to North Korea that future political, diplomatic, or economic inducements will require improvements in both human rights and nuclear security issues.