Over a dozen North Korea-focused human rights groups and activists released a joint letter of support for a fellow U.S.-based nonprofit on Wednesday, after the DPRK’s foreign ministry accused the organization of acting as a “front” for anti-North Korea interests.

The letter signed by 15 organizations and activists defends the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) as “part of a global movement that seeks to advance the human rights and welfare of North Koreans.”

Jieun Baek, director at the nonprofit Lumen that also works on North Korean human rights issues, initiated the letter and told NK Newsthat