Sandra Suh is an American aid worker deported from North Korea in 2015 on charges of "using her humanitarian status as a cover to gather and produce anti- Pyongyang propaganda." [1]
In 1989, Suh founded a California-based organization, Wheat Mission Ministries. [1] In 2005, Wheat Mission Ministries formally established itself as a non-profit organization. [2] The organization provides food aid and medical technology to North Korea. [1] The Korean Central News Agency said that Suh had frequently visited North Korea over the past 20 years. [1]
On 8 April 2015, [3] Suh was deported "on charges of using her humanitarian status as a cover to gather and produce anti- Pyongyang propaganda", visiting "under the pretense of humanitarianism", [1] and "secretly taken photos and produced videos that had then been used as "propaganda abroad". [4] KCNA said "the decision to deport rather than detain her had been made "taking into full consideration her old age"". [1] [5]
As of 9 April 2015 [update], US Department of State spokeswoman Marie Harf could not tell why Suh was deported. [6]
Sandra Suh is an American aid worker deported from North Korea in 2015 on charges of "using her humanitarian status as a cover to gather and produce anti- Pyongyang propaganda." [1]
In 1989, Suh founded a California-based organization, Wheat Mission Ministries. [1] In 2005, Wheat Mission Ministries formally established itself as a non-profit organization. [2] The organization provides food aid and medical technology to North Korea. [1] The Korean Central News Agency said that Suh had frequently visited North Korea over the past 20 years. [1]
On 8 April 2015, [3] Suh was deported "on charges of using her humanitarian status as a cover to gather and produce anti- Pyongyang propaganda", visiting "under the pretense of humanitarianism", [1] and "secretly taken photos and produced videos that had then been used as "propaganda abroad". [4] KCNA said "the decision to deport rather than detain her had been made "taking into full consideration her old age"". [1] [5]
As of 9 April 2015 [update], US Department of State spokeswoman Marie Harf could not tell why Suh was deported. [6]