The native North Korean who has been pleading for the right to leave South Korea and return to Pyongyang received a message from her daughter via North Korean media on Monday.

The letter, written by Kim’s daughter Ri Ryun Kum, was released on North Korea’s Mothers’ Day via the Uriminzokkiri media outlet.

“Mom, please come to your homeland as soon as possible. The whole family is waiting for you. The door to the homeland is always open,” the letter reads.

The letter criticized South Korea’s human rights environment for preventing Kim’s repatriation.

A tearful Kim told NK News what she would like to say to her daughter.

“I read this letter yesterday while preparing for the press conference. I just became a fool, I couldn’t say anything. I feel really thankful to my daughter, who grew up without her mom’s care. Please stay bright and don’t forget you are not only my daughter but also the nation’s daughter,” Kim told NK News.

Kim, who is currently staying in Seoul, faced another hardship last week. The group of Christians who have supported Kim in her quest to return to the North were accused of violating the National Security Law last Friday.

“The National Intelligence Service (NIS) is trying to divert attention,” Kim said.

One member of the group, Pastor Kim Seong-yoon, has been detained since last Friday, and a fellow pastor said that that the conditions of his detention are unnecessarily strict because he cannot escape.

“Kim is a physically challenged person due to polio. His hands were tied for seven hours from midnight to about 7 a.m., and he is still currently under arrest,” Choi Jae-bong told NK News.

Choi himself is currently under investigation for contacting a “North Korean agent” in China last week.

“I gathered money for three years with four friends to travel. It was just a tour with my friends and we just stopped by a North Korean restaurant to taste the food where I visited four or five years ago,” Choi told NK News.

Choi said he has been motivated by his religious conscience to help Kim. The group of pastors from Christianity Peace Action, and Kim is demonstrating since Monday.

Kim’s story was publicized in July by a report from South Korea’s Hankyoreh newspaper. She has been argued that she is a DPRK citizen who mistakenly came to South Korea in 2011 after being deceived by a broker. Observers have indicated mixed opinions regarding her story.

“I can’t understand why I can’t go, while such a number of people are heading for (North Korea). I want to hold their hand when they come back from the North, hope to get a bottle of water from (North Korea),” she said, speaking from Incheon International Airport where South Korean labor unions held press conference before departing to Pyongyang.

Featured Image: Uriminzokkiri