Ministry of Unification: "If National Assembly Agrees, North Korean Human Rights Foundation Can Be Launched Quickly"

Lee In-young (second from left), Minister of Unification, and Suh Wook, Minister of National Defense, are attending the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Ministry of Unification stated that it is prepared to promptly launch the North Korean Human Rights Foundation once the National Assembly reaches an agreement on the composition of the foundation as stipulated in the North Korean Human Rights Act.

On the 23rd, when asked about the government's preparation in relation to the People Power Party's decision to unilaterally recommend five directors for the North Korean Human Rights Foundation, allocated as the opposition party's negotiation group quota, the Ministry of Unification official made this statement.

On the same day, the People Power Party recommended five directors for the opposition party quota, noting that although the North Korean Human Rights Act, passed in 2016, will mark its 5th anniversary of enforcement on the 2nd of next month, the North Korean Human Rights Foundation has yet to be established. The North Korean Human Rights Act stipulates the establishment of the North Korean Human Rights Foundation to investigate human rights conditions in North Korea and develop related policies, and mandates that the foundation have up to 12 directors appointed by the Minister of Unification and the National Assembly.

Regarding the lawsuit filed by some North Korean defectors against Minister of Unification Lee In-young over his remarks about the "credibility of defectors' testimonies," the ministry stated that it will not take any separate action.

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