English Version of North Korean Human Rights Report Removes Disclaimer Saying 'Cannot Guarantee'

Ministry of Unification Republishes English Version After Removing 'Disclaimer' Clause
"Will Strive to Spread Consensus on North Korean Human Rights Overseas"

The Ministry of Unification has revised and republished the English version of the North Korean Human Rights Report, which had sparked controversy for including a disclaimer stating that "accuracy cannot be guaranteed."

The Ministry of Unification announced on the 7th that it published the English booklet of the "2023 North Korean Human Rights Report." Earlier, based on testimonies from 508 defectors who fled North Korea between 2017 and 2022, the Ministry had first publicly released the Korean version of the North Korean Human Rights Report at the end of March this year. The previous administration had kept it confidential due to concerns over North Korea's backlash, but the Yoon Seok-yeol administration decided to make it public to fully expose the horrific realities in North Korea.

North Korea Human Rights Report
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Subsequently, the Ministry of Unification pre-released the English version online in April. However, unlike the Korean version, it was revealed that a disclaimer stating "The Ministry of Unification does not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in the report" was inserted belatedly, causing controversy. The position that the accuracy of North Korea's atrocities based on defectors' "testimonies" cannot be trusted was interpreted as the logic of the so-called "progressive camp," leading to criticism that it contradicts government policy. Ultimately, the Ministry deleted the online English version and began a review.

In the newly released English version, the problematic disclaimer has been removed. The Ministry plans to print 1,500 copies of the booklet and distribute them to major domestic and international institutions. 900 copies will be distributed to overseas diplomatic missions, foreign embassies in Korea, international organizations in Korea, and non-governmental organizations. Additionally, 150 copies will be supplied to human rights organizations and human rights and security research institutes both domestically and abroad. In particular, 450 copies will be distributed to government agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Overseas Regional Councils of the National Unification Advisory Council to be used as basic materials for raising awareness of the North Korean human rights situation worldwide.

Goo Byung-sam, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification [Photo by Yonhap News]

At a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, Ministry of Unification spokesperson Koo Byung-sam said, "We will cooperate with related agencies to actively utilize the North Korean Human Rights Report at major international events related to North Korean human rights and continue to raise awareness of human rights issues," adding, "We hope that through the English version, consensus on improving North Korean human rights will spread overseas and ultimately contribute to the advancement of North Korean human rights."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.