The North Korean regime is one of the most brutal on Earth. Executions, torture, and arbitrary detention are commonplace. Many lose their lives attempting to escape. For those who do make it out of the hermit kingdom, many difficulties remain.

But how can we help the people of North Korea?

The answer is that the issues on the Korean Peninsula won’t be easily solved. But many are working hard to help North Koreans.

Ambassador Julie Turner, the U.S. Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues, is working diplomatically through her role in the U.S. government.

Hannah Song, CEO of non-profit Liberty in North Korea, brings boots-on-the-ground support through LiNK’s modern-day underground railroad.

And Joseph Kim, Research Fellow at the Bush Institute and North Korean escapee himself, is telling his story of survival and supporting his people through his powerful words.

The three experts joined host Andrew Kaufmann for an important conversation about how the U.S. can support North Koreans still in the country, the state of human rights in North Korea, and the work they do to advocate for North Koreans living in the U.S.

That’s on this episode of The Strategerist, presented by the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

Related content: 

• Escapees develop leadership skills at the Bush Institute's North Korean Human Rights Workshop
• The Bush Institute's work supporting freedom in North Korea