North Korea condemns U.S. human rights offensive in public lectures

The government in North Korea has reportedly launched an ideological offensive in the form of public lectures targeting factory workers and residents, claiming there is “hidden poison” in U.S. talk of human rights.
The timing of the lectures, which came just after Donald Trump announced his support for Israel’s attack on Iran, is drawing particular attention.
According to an NK Times source in North Hamgyong Province on the 23rd, a lecture was held on June 21 in Hoeryong City, targeting workers from factories and enterprises as well as local residents, titled “Let’s crush the anti-republic schemes of the U.S. and its followers”
The source quoted the lecturer saying, “Human rights issues have emerged as one of the most critical focal points on the international political stage and discussions are growing increasingly complex in the UN General Assembly and other international organizations. North Korean human rights issues are being frequently discussed.”
“Human rights issues are no longer mere points of debate, but have escalated into serious political and sharply militarized matters,” the lecturer reportedly said. “There is no denying that the offensive launched by the U.S. and its allies under the pretext of human rights in North Korea is fiercer than ever.”
“The true barren wastelands of human rights violations are the U.S. and its followers,” he added. “They parade as international human rights judges while engaging in coercion and tyranny. They exploit human rights issues to infringe on national sovereignty and are obsessed with war plots and invasions.”
The remarks appeared aimed at raising awareness among residents of the threat embedded in the U.S. human rights rhetoric, and encouraging internal unity in response.
“This so-called human rights offensive hides serious poison and a sharp blade,” the lecturer said. “Cowering in fear or retreating in the face of the enemy’s offensive is the path to self-destruction, and accepting it is akin to drinking poison.”
“History has seen nations fall after yielding to the reactionary human rights offensives of imperialism, while others resisted with strong pressure, crushed such offensives, and protected their political ideology, sovereignty, and system like an impregnable fortress. One such nation is none other than our Republic (North Korea),” the lecturer said.
“The coercion and tyranny carried out under the pretext of human rights by the U.S. and its followers can never be a ‘cure-all.’ Crushing this reactionary human rights offensive is a historical mission. We must educate correctly, show the true reality of human rights in our Republic, and we must rise as one to expose and denounce the vile schemes of the U.S. and South Korea with factual data,” he said.
The source said that such lectures are held every three months in the border areas because people living there receive external news faster than anyone.
“There are more people here who raise concerns about human rights violations committed by law enforcement officials,” the source said.”This time, the intent was to drive home the point that no matter how much abuse local officials commit, people should recognize that, relatively speaking, our human rights protections are still better than in other countries.”
“Lately, news of war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has become a hot topic among residents. A lecture related to that subject is expected soon,” he said.