Washington, D.C. — August 8th, 2025

For ten young North Korean escapees, this July was more than a trip to the United States—it was a journey from survival to statesmanship. Over eight days, the North Korean Young Leaders Assembly (NKYLA) immersed participants in the heart of American democracy, diplomacy, and dialogue. They met policymakers, engaged with thought leaders, and reflected on their own extraordinary paths from the world’s most closed society to the global stage.

Since its founding in 2023, NKYLA has trained emerging leaders from the North Korean escapee community to become credible advocates for a free and unified Korea. Hosted by the Global Peace Foundation, this year’s assembly brought together eight participants from South Korea and two from the United States, each with a personal history as compelling as the cause they champion.

From Military History to Defector Day

Mr. Hyunseung Lee speaks during North Korean Defector Day hosted by AKU Washington

The program began on July 13 at the National Museum of the United States Army, where participants learned about the history and values that shape America’s armed forces. Later that day, at the Alliance for Korea United’s “North Korean Defector Day” event in Virginia, NKYLA founder Hyunseung Lee outlined the assembly’s mission, and Fullbright scholar, Jihyang Kim shared her remarkable escape story—a childhood in the North, a perilous journey through China, and an unshakable belief in the power of truth.

Her words echoed across the room: “I survived, but survival is not the same as freedom. Freedom must be learned, protected, and shared.” Read her full story on UPI.

Leadership, History, and the Long Road to Unification

GPF International President James Flynn speaks to the North Korean Young Leaders Assembly.

On the designated Policy & Leadership Day, GPF International President Jim Flynn challenged participants to think of unification not as a political slogan but as a long-term nation-building project. A private roundtable with the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) deepened the conversation, exploring strategies to break the information blockade that sustains the Kim regime.

The next day’s Diplomacy & History Day was a study in contrasts: the elegant Old Korean Legation Museum—once a symbol of Korea’s sovereignty—followed by the solemn Korean War Veterans Memorial and Lincoln Memorial. Standing before the etched names of the fallen, participants were reminded that freedom always has a price.

Capitol Hill Conversations

An NKYLA participant (left) speaks at the Rayburn House Office Building beside Dr. Suzanne Scholte (right).

Capitol Hill Day on July 16 placed NKYLA directly inside America’s legislative heartbeat. At a congressional luncheon hosted at the Rayburn House Office Building in collaboration with Dr. Suzanne Scholte and the Defense Forum Foundation, members met policy influencers and staffers who shape U.S. policy on the Korean Peninsula.

For Tom Dokko, the moment was surreal. A former soldier in the Korean People’s Army, Dokko defected by crossing the heavily militarized DMZ—an act so rare it made international headlines. “In North Korea, I was trained to see Americans as enemies,” he reflected. “Today, I share a meal with them, discussing how to bring freedom and democracy to my homeland.

For the full testimonies of NKYLA members at the luncheon, watch here.

Faith, Freedom, and the Lessons of History

NKYLA participants spoke at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation

July 17 blended interfaith dialogue and historical reckoning. In the morning, participants joined a roundtable at the Religious Freedom Institute with American youth leaders, hosted at Pepperdine University’s Washington office. The discussion underscored how religious liberty, often denied in North Korea, is a cornerstone of human dignity.

In the afternoon, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation hosted a panel featuring NKYLA members, GPF, and HRNK, where stories of survival met the policy frameworks needed for change.

Behind Closed Doors at the State Department

NKYLA at the U.S. State Department.

Perhaps the most consequential meeting came on July 18, when NKYLA members met privately with U.S. State Department officials. The conversation covered human rights, sanctions enforcement, and the role of escapees in shaping future policy.

For Kim Kangwoo, the discussion was deeply personal. As a teenager, he escaped North Korea—but later risked everything to return and rescue his mother. Against all odds, he succeeded, and today they live together in South Korea. His story, chronicled in The Washington Post, is a testament to courage and the enduring bonds of family. “I once lived in a place where my voice meant nothing,” he said. “Now, people in the highest offices listen.” Read his story in The Washington Post.

North Korean Young Leaders Assembly 2025

Reflection, Culture, and Farewell

The final weekend balanced team-building and cultural exploration around Washington, D.C., before closing with gift shopping and tearful farewells. Bonds forged during sharing stories, deep policy debates, and shared meals will now span continents.

A Platform for the Future

NKYLA 2025 was not just a program—it was a living demonstration that the future of a unified Korea will be shaped by those who have endured its division most personally. Each participant leaves not only with new skills and networks but also with the conviction that their voice can influence the course of history.

As Hyunseung Lee summarized in his closing remarks: “We are not just telling our stories; we are writing the next chapter of Korea’s story.”