For Immediate Release
South Korea: Promote Human Rights in North Korea
Coalition Urges President Moon to Take Stronger Stance on Abuses
(Seoul, December 15, 2020) – South Korea¡¯s government should strengthen its efforts to promote human rights in North Korea, a coalition of rights-oriented groups said today in an open letter to South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
The International Coalition to Stop Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK), joined by 45 other groups, representing over 300 civil society groups, and 7 concerned individuals, expressed concern about the South Korean government¡¯s increasingly weak stance on human rights violations and accountability in North Korea.
¡°President Moon Jae-in and his government should be maintaining a strong and principled approach toward North Korea¡¯s grave human rights abuses for the sake of all Koreans,¡± said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. ¡°President Moon should be addressing North Korea¡¯s lack of cooperation with the United Nations system and recommitting to raising human rights issues in future negotiations.¡±
In November 2020, South Korea decided for the second consecutive year not to co-sponsor a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly condemning the human rights situation in North Korea. The South Korean government¡¯s reluctance to make North Korea¡¯s human rights record a priority is made worse by North Korea¡¯s increased isolation. The North Korean government reportedly intensified surveillance on people breaking Covid-19 related restrictions, and created a buffer zone near the northern border with China, with guards ordered to ¡°unconditionally shoot¡± on sight anyone entering without permission. In September, the North Korean navy shot and killed a 47-year-old South Korean fisheries official, Lee Dae-jun, on a boat near North Korea¡¯s western sea border, also under the pretext of Covid-19 prevention.
¡°The human suffering and human rights violations caused by North Korea's disproportionate and unnecessary measures on Covid-19 are directly related to the lives of the South Korean people and the future of larger negotiations on the Korean Peninsula,¡± said Eun-Kyoung Kwon, secretary general at ICNK. ¡°President Moon Jae-in should condemn North Korea¡¯s abusive measures on Covid-19, not look the other way for the sake of inter-Korean diplomacy.¡±
The coalition urged the South Korean government to demonstrate leadership, rejoin the co-sponsors of the UN General Assembly resolution on North Korea in December, and clarify what steps South Korea is taking to help improve the country¡¯s human rights situation.
¡°South Korea¡¯s leadership on North Korean human rights, especially at the UN, has always been absolutely vital,¡± said Benedict Rogers, senior analyst for East Asia at Christian Solidarity Worldwide. ¡°The current South Korean government should not downplay or be silent on the crimes against humanity which a UN inquiry has itself accused Kim Jong Un¡¯s regime of committing, but rather to step up again and renew its leadership position on these issues. Lasting peace can only be achieved with justice.¡±
For more information, please contact:
In Bangkok, Phil Robertson (English, Thai): +66-85-060-8406 (mobile); or robertp@hrw.org. Twitter: @Reaproy
In Seoul, Eun-Kyoung Kwon (Korean, English), secretary general, ICNK, reachable at kekyoung@gmail.com or +82.10.4508.8815.
In London, Ben Rogers (English) East Asia team leader at CSW, reachable at benrogers@csw.org.uk or +447823329664.