UN Resolution for Human Rights in North Korea (CG)▶ Click here for a larger view
The government said that it has not yet decided on the issue of participating as a co-sponsor of the North Korean human rights resolution, which is expected to be adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in the near future.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with reporters on the 22nd and said, “It is still under internal review and has not been decided” about the government’s position.
The government has participated in the North Korean human rights resolution as a co-sponsor since 2009, but from 2019, considering the impact of proactively raising the North Korean human rights issue on the denuclearization dialogue with North Korea, it will not be named as a joint proposing country, but the resolution agreed (consensus). ) Joining the adoption.
The U.S. did not participate in North Korean human rights resolutions in 2019 and 2020 when the Donald Trump administration left the human rights board, but the Joe Biden administration, which emphasizes human rights, returned to the human rights board and became a joint proposal again.
Recently, as Secretary of State Tony Blincoln’s recent visit to Korea strongly criticized North Korean human rights, some argue that the South Korean government should keep pace, but at this stage, the government will continue to participate only in the adoption of the agreement, as it is a trend that the resumption of dialogue with North Korea is priority over human rights. Seems to be.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, “Because there are 193 countries that agree with the consensus (the North Korean Human Rights Resolution), participation in the joint proposal is important, but it would be better to give more meaning to participating in the consensus.”
“However, the participation of the United States is welcome as a diplomatic authority,” he said. “The United States is actively welcoming the return of human rights and multilateral issues as authorities and continuing to consult.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was reluctant to comment on reports that the Ministry of Unification indicated that the Ministry of Unification had restricted the activities of some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in North Korea in the 2020 Korean Human Rights Report, which is expected to be published soon.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, “Because it is not the time when the report was published, it is okay to comment,” and explained, “The human rights report is not made in consultation with us.”
Voice of the United States (VOA), which obtained this report first, reported that the report included a case in which the Ministry of Unification canceled the permission to establish the’Free North Korean Movement Association’ and’Keun Saem’ in July last year.
The report is expected to contain criticism raised by NGOs and others regarding the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act, which prohibited the spread of warfare against North Korea.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Human Rights Report is a report made by the United States and is not subject to discussion with the Korean government. .
The State Department publishes a report annually on the human rights situation of more than 190 countries around the world, including Korea, since 1977 in accordance with its own laws.
The human rights report describes the matters raised by domestic and foreign media, experts, and NGOs that there are concerns about human rights violations, focusing on facts.
The ‘2019 Korea Human Rights Report’ posted on the homepage of the Ministry of State raises the issue of the Military Rights Center on harsh acts in the military, criticizes civic groups against the National Security Act, cases of refusal of refugee status, resignation of the Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, and conviction of former Chungnam governor Hee-jung Ahn Mentioned.
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