Ministry of Unification: "Lee In-young Did Not Treat Defector Testimonies as Lies"

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is attending the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th, providing a work report. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Regarding some North Korean defectors' announcement to file a defamation lawsuit over Minister of Unification Lee In-young's remarks, the Ministry of Unification stated, "Minister Lee did not make any statements implying that the defectors' testimonies are unreliable lies."

Lee Jong-joo, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, said at a regular briefing on the 22nd, "The Ministry of Unification and the Minister clearly recognize that the defectors' testimonies are valuable records that inform our government and the international community about the human rights situation in North Korea."

Earlier, at a foreign press briefing held on the 3rd, Minister Lee remarked that the defectors' statements regarding North Korean human rights require verification. In response, the defectors claimed that his remarks implied their statements were lies and decided to file a lawsuit against the minister that afternoon. The Ministry of Unification then moved to clarify the intent behind Minister Lee's remarks.

The spokesperson said, "The Ministry of Unification firmly believes that investigations and documentation concerning defectors must be conducted based on the principle of victim-centeredness," adding, "We are striving to improve the accuracy of North Korean human rights records by verifying and confirming not only individual victim accounts but also various factors such as North Korean human rights-related systems, policies, and environments."

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