A group of 17 political and human-rights leaders, including Christians, has issued a statement urging the Bush administration to include human rights in negotiations in spite of the nuclear threat.

One of the signers, Nina Shea of Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom, says North Korea revealed its nuclear program to force the U.S. to negotiate on security and economic assistance.

"We should negotiate with Pyongyang, but on our terms," Shea told CT. "That is, model the talks on the three baskets of the Helsinki Final Act [with the former Soviet Union]—security, economics, and human rights."

The statement of principles, "From Helsinki to Pyongyang," provides a model for writing to your congressional representatives or to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (2201 C Street, N.W., Suite 7276, Washington, DC 20520). In any U.S. negotiations with North Korea, the document suggests:

• The United States must not allow Pyongyang to commit atrocities against its own people in exchange for promises not to make nuclear threats.

• The United States should grant North Korea's request for a nonaggression pact, but only if North Korea welcomes institutions that promote human rights.

The statement also says the administration should investigate human-rights abuses; press China to process refugee claims rather than summarily return escapees to certain death in North Korea; and call on China to allow the U.N. High Commission for Refugees access to refugees.

For information on how to aid refugees, contact Douglas Shin of the human-rights organization Exodus 21, at dougeshin@yahoo.com. See www.chosunjournal.com for more information.

Pray for the release and healing of imprisoned Christians in North Korea. Also pray for the restoration of freedom and dignity to the nation.

—Jeff M. Sellers