Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "US Human Rights Report Not Yet Published... Participation in Joint Proposal on North Korea Resolution Undecided"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Regarding reports that former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, and Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang were mentioned in the U.S. Department of State's upcoming official publication, the "2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices," for cases of corruption and sexual harassment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refrained from commenting, stating that "the report has not yet been published."

On the 22nd, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official told reporters, "The contents of the 2020 Human Rights Report have not yet been disclosed."

The official explained, "The U.S. Department of State's Human Rights Report is not coordinated with foreign countries but is conducted independently in accordance with domestic law. Since 1977, it has compiled information collected annually on about 190 countries through the media, experts, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), reporting by category and internally reviewing before publication." The report is not published through consultation with South Korea.

According to some media reports, the human rights report also reportedly includes criticism that the Act on the Development of Inter-Korean Relations restricts the activities of NGOs for North Korean defectors. In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said, "It is difficult to comment as the report has not yet been published," and refrained from further remarks. However, the official explained that regarding concerns expressed by U.S. human rights organizations and lawmakers about restrictions on freedom of expression related to the Act on the Development of Inter-Korean Relations, South Korea has actively explained the legislative intent and scope of application of the amended law to the U.S. administration, Congress, and civic groups.

Meanwhile, as the United Nations Human Rights Council is expected to adopt a North Korea human rights resolution soon, it appears that South Korea's participation as a co-sponsor has not yet been decided. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated, "Internal review is still ongoing, and no decision has been made." South Korea, which had participated as a co-sponsor since 2009, has not participated since 2019.

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