I Shin-hwa, North Korea Human Rights Ambassador, "International Solidarity Needed on North Korean Human Rights Issues"

Lecture at the Anmin Policy Forum

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Sinhwa, Ambassador for International Cooperation on North Korean Human Rights, stated on the 14th that "we must leverage the sensitive human rights issues that the Kim Jong-un regime is concerned about to draw solidarity from the international community." He pointed out that it is important for our government to newly establish non-negotiable standards for North Korean human rights in order to lead international solidarity.

Speaking as a lecturer at the Anmin Policy Forum seminar held in Gangnam, Seoul, on the same day, Ambassador Lee emphasized, "To expand the negotiation space with North Korea, international cooperation based not only on sanctions but also on human rights issues is necessary." He explained that every time the international community raises vulnerable North Korean human rights situations such as abductees, forced labor in coal mines, the practice of guilt by association, and forced abortions, North Korea reacts by labeling them as 'malicious confrontation elements,' 'sovereignty violations,' and 'not to be associated with,' which is their 'Achilles' heel.'

He stressed that social consensus in South Korea on North Korean human rights is crucial to leading international cooperation. Ambassador Lee proposed, "There needs to be a process to institutionalize what North Korean human rights mean." He explained, "Because the issue of North Korean human rights has been divided between conservatives emphasizing human rights and progressives advocating for aid to North Korea, resulting in inconsistent North Korea policies by each government and a structure that is swayed by North Korea, it is urgent to establish a consensus on North Korean human rights."

Regarding the ongoing military provocations by North Korea, including violations of the September 19 military agreement, he pointed out, "Domestically, it is due to the previous government's policy of aid to North Korea, and externally, it is because North Korea is maintaining nuclear weapons to increase its direct negotiation power with the U.S. on issues like disarmament." Ambassador Lee analyzed, "When the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic mirage appeared, we forgot that North Korea's nuclear armament is Kim Il-sung's last will. Currently, North Korea is behind in disarmament negotiations, so it is launching missiles to raise its status."

He strongly criticized the previous government's repatriation incident, stating that it violated both international and domestic laws. Ambassador Lee said, "Under international law, according to the Convention Against Torture, people should not be sent to places where they may be subjected to torture or arbitrary punishment. Under domestic law, even the most heinous criminals should be provided with court-appointed lawyers and the presumption of innocence must be upheld, but this was not respected." He criticized, "Distorting or ignoring fundamental rights is a very serious problem."

Regarding recent views that South Korea's failure to be elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council and the potential decline in Korea's standing, Ambassador Lee said, "If we say we want to become a central country for human rights and work hard for human rights, shouldn't we always be consistent regardless of the ruling party? I think that would better serve our national interests."

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