The UN's representative for North Korean human rights was in Seoul for the past week to discuss
how to make life better for the North's impoverished people.
He says major advancements on this issue could help North Korea become part of the global
community.
Our Oh Soo-young had the chance to meet with him... and files this report.
With the recent rapprochement between South and North Korea, the two governments have
made a number of key agreements including the reunion of war-separated families?
What are your thoughts on such developments and do you seem them as a positive sign in
improving the human rights situation in the North?
"First, let me commend both the governments of South Korea and North Korea for this important,
historical rapprochement.
And this rapprochement includes, as you say, a number of situations which have an impact
on human rights.
You mentioned a union of separated families during the Korean War.
I hope that the two governments establish regular basis for the families to establish
contact not only one event.
And there are some other elements, especially, in the Panmunjom Declaration that you can
say that it has an impact on human rights.
When these declarations spe about prosperity, it is talking about economic, social and cultural
rights, people especially living in North Korea.
I hope, at the same time during the time of rapprochement, that N. Korea opens up into
dialogue with the United Nations.
This is what we would like to see."
There’s some concern that the North’s human rights issue is being buried amid the
ongoing dialogue between the two Koreas as well as the North and the United States.
What would you say is a good way to raise this issue with the North?
"Sometimes, the discussion of HR is being put aside because people see it as a risk
or that it may jeopardise any progress on this peace agenda, or progress on the denuclearization
agenda.
That's not my view.
I think on the contrary, to start a discussion on a dialogue on human rights in North Korea
would reinforce any prospects on agreements on the peace agenda, would bring credibility
to the possibility of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula as a whole.
You were in Seoul this week to discuss this issue with South
Korean official.
Any strategies or plans on tackling North Korea's human rights situation?
"We are in this situation where the question of timing is very important.
How and when to address the HR question is something that continues to needs to be responded
by the government of South Korea.
It requires a strategy, it is not maybe wise to right away put on the table the more serious
HR situations in North Korea.
Like the political prison camps and in relations to the freedoms in N. Korea.
Those are discussions that might come in the future.
In the context of these negotiations, my advice to the South Korean government is that they
need to develop a strategy to bring to the table the importance of opening dialogue also
on the human rights agenda.
The idea is that N. Korea ends the era of isolation in regards to how to deal with the
United Nations human rights agenda.
That would complete the picture about North Korea wanting to become a normal state.
Thank you for your time today.
You're welcome.