The inflow of outside information permeating North Korea's borders holds profound influence to change North Korean residents' awareness and can play a pivotal role in the fight to improve North Korea's systematic human rights violations. These issues--among others--featured prominently at the ICNK (International Coalition to Stop Crimes against Humanity in North Korea) Conference on Implementations on COI (Commission of Inquiry) Recommendations held last week in Seoul.

“International pressure, criticism, and formation of public opinions are crucial for ameliorating the human rights issues in North Korea. But equally as imperative is devising strategies that effect change within North Korea," stated Kim Young Hwan, senior researcher with Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights (NKnet).

He added that the North Korean regime would have to fundamentally change for these human rights issued to be rectified, but that residents’ awareness of outside information is equally vital to this goal, explaining that North Koreans must have an accurate understanding of their leadership to drive change.

To this end, the international community's role is crucial. “North Korea has grown increasingly dependent on the international community and is becoming more and more concerned about how it is perceived by foreign countries,” he explained, adding that the international community must utilize this opportunity to expedite change in the North.

Lee Jung Hoon, South Korea's ambassador for human rights, underscored the importance of the newly established UN field office in Seoul, which will investigate North Korean human rights. “South Korea needs to actively support this office and make diplomatic efforts to induce the Chinese government to wield extensive influence for the betterment of North Korea’s human rights.”

Lee added that doing everything possible to inform North Korean residents of the movements occurring to advocate their rights while concurrently placing pressure on the regime are paramount. In turn, these unsparing measures will serve to raise awareness of North Korean human rights violations among the international community. 

“Back when the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on North Korean human rights issues was established two years ago, who would have known that the United Nations Security Council would take these matters up as part of its formal agenda? Who would have known back then that the international community would be discussing plans to refer Kim Jung Eun to the International Criminal Court?” he pointed out, going to express his gratitude to ICNK and all the activists that spearheaded these efforts.

Ruling Saenuri Party Chairman Rep. Kim Moo Sung, focused heavily on the North Korean human rights act--languishing for over a decade in the National Assembly-- during his presentation. “How can South Korea call itself a democratic country if it is not concerned about North Koreans’ human rights?” he pointed out. “(The South Korean) National Assembly’s passing of the North Korean human rights act would foster democracy by stirring up North Koreans’ hope for freedom.” These, he said, would serve as a “crucial force” in condemning North Korea’s actions and provide immense support for the oppressed population.

Experts from a number of other countries also joined the conference, proposing methods to approach North Korea's crimes against humanity based on case studies from other nations. George Kegoro of the Kenyan section of the International Commission of Jurists said that at this time, "the UN Security Council will be hesitant about making political highlights by referring North Korea to ICC," and that "building a better regional and/or international cooperation system would be advisable."

Professor Uziel Santana of the Federal University of Sergipe followed by stating, “Brazil is the only country that can form a bilateral relationship with countries such as Cuba, Pakistan, and North Korea. It would thus be possible to induce North Korean to abide by the United Nation’s admonitions by putting pressure on the Brazilian government.”

[Daily NK]