(June 9, 2006) The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.www.persecution.org has just become informed of the arrest and imprisonment of ten North Koreans in Laos who were attempting to find a safe haven in a Southeast Asian country. Two South Korean Christian aid workers who were aiding the escapees were also arrested. If Laos chooses to surrender the escapees to the North Korean embassy, they will almost certainly face either a long imprisonment in the Gulag or a death sentence.

They are currently being held at the Immigration Detention Center in Pang Mong, Luan Brabang Province of Laos.

International Christian Concern strongly urges all concerned individuals to contact the Laotian Embassy or Consulate in their country to protest and ask for the release of the North and South Koreans.

Lao Embassy in the US

Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
2222 S Street NW
Washington DC 20008
Tel. (202) 332-6416 Fax: (202) 332-4923

Lao Embassy in Australia
Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
1 Dalmain Crescent O’Malley
Canberra ACT 2606
Tel: (+61 6) 286-4595, 286-6933
Fax: (+61 6) 290-1910

Lao Embassy in Belgium

Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Avenue Brabançonne 19

1000 Brussels
Tel: +32-(0)2-740.09.50 – Fax: +32-(0)2-734.16.16

Email: Ambalaobx@yucom.be

Lao Embassy in France (covering the UK as well)
His Excellency Mr Soutsakhone Pathammavong
Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
74 Avenue Raymond-Poincaré
75116 Paris
Fax: 00 33 145530298
Email: ambalaoparis@wanadoo.fr

Lao Embassy in Japan

Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
3-3-22 Nishi-Azabu Minato-Ku
Tokyo 106
Tel: (+81 3) 5411-2291, 5411-2292
Fax: (+81 3) 5411-2293

Lao Embassy in Sweden

Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Hornsgatan 82-B1 TR 11721
Stockholm
Tel: (+46 8) 668-5122
Fax: (+46 8) 669-2176.