Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Letters from Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) to DPRK Mission to the UN and to US State Dept (below)
Pak Gil Yon
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotential
Permanent Representative, DPRK Mission to the UN
Dear Ambassador Pak,
I wish to take this opportunity to extend to Your Excellency my sincerest wishes for good health and well-being.
I write to you today on behalf of Ms. Cha-hee Lee Stanfield. She believes her relatives may be living in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We would like to ask your government’s assistance in a purely humanitarian effort to reunite Ms Stanfield’s family, after being separated by war for over half a century. The people involved are now in their 70s and 80s and do not have much time left in their lives.
I was deeply saddened to find out about Ms. Stanfield’s tragic life, and to learn that there are thousands of Korean American families in similarly desperate situations. I cannot imagine that thousands of other Korean American families have lived with this pain for over half a century, unable to make a phone call or send a letter to relatives in North Korea. Many do not even know if loved ones are dead or alive. As a member of United States Congress, and also as Ms. Stanfield’s friend and neighbor, I feel a responsibility to help her find her family before it is too late.
There are serious issues that need to be resolved between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Nevertheless, citizens of both our countries suffer from the tragedy of being divided from their loved ones. For their sake, it is time to find a way to work together on this humanitarian problem, separate from all other political concerns.
I have attached to this letter an information sheet that may help in finding her family. I have also directed my office to work with Saemsori, a new organization dedicated to finding a way to help re-establish contacts for divided Korean American families.
We welcome any information you may find and suggestions you have.
Sincerely,
Mark Kirk
Member of Congress
The Honorable Condoleeza Rice
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
Dear Madame Secretary:
I write to you today on behalf of Ms. Cha-hee Lee Stanfield, a librarian from Chicago, Illinois, who may have relatives living in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). We ask your assistance in a purely humanitarian effort to reunite Ms Stanfield’s family, separated by war for over half a century. The people involved are in their 70s and 80s and do not have much time left in their lives.
It grieves me deeply to hear Ms. Stanfield’s story; I cannot imagine that thousands of other Korean American families have lived with this pain for over half a century, unable to make a phone call or send a letter to relatives in North Korea. Many do not even know if loved ones are dead or alive.
Given the age of the people who have been divided, we cannot afford to lose any more time. We request that this be handled independently of political concerns, such as security, refugees, or human rights. This is strictly a humanitarian matter concerning American citizens.
We have also sent a request to the DPRK Permanent Representative to the UN in New York City. Please find enclosed a copy of the letter that I have sent him.
I have attached to this letter an information sheet that may help in finding Ms. Stanfield’s family in North Korea. I have also directed my office to work with Saemsori, a new organization dedicated to finding a way to help re-establish contacts for divided Korean American families.
I welcome any information you may find regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Mark Kirk
Member of Congress