Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton to meet North Korean defector

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are to meet a North Korean defector. Michelle Obama will attend a ceremony hosted by Clinton at the State Department on Wednesday, and meet Lee Ae-ran, a professor at Kyungin Women's College.

Lee was chosen as one of 10 outstanding women leaders around the world at the recommendation of U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens. A diplomatic source said one motivation is to evoke interest in the human rights situation in North Korea.

After escaping from the North in 1997, Lee settled in the South and received a PhD degree in Nutritional Science and Food Management from Ewha Womans University. Since this March, she has been teaching at Kyungin Women's College. Lee has been involved in raising funds to help women and young North Korean defectors settle in South Korea.

Chosun Ilbo

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