"Need to Consider 'Korean Peninsula Declaration' Based on Unlimited Humanitarian Responsibility for North Korean Residents"

Unification Research Institute's Next Year's Political Outlook
Kim Jong-un Regime and North Korean Human Rights Issues
Must Separate with a Two-Track Approach
Based on Article 3 of the Constitution, Proposes Infinite Humanitarian Responsibility for North Korean Residents

Johanbeom, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification

There has been a call for a "Korean Peninsula Declaration" in which our government expresses an unlimited humanitarian responsibility for the human rights violations of North Korean residents. Actively engaging in North Korean human rights issues is analyzed as a justification for securing our moral superiority and at the same time a creative solution to resolve the deadlock in inter-Korean relations.

On the 13th, Jo Han-beom, Senior Research Fellow at the Unification Policy Research Office of the Korea Institute for National Unification, made this suggestion at the "2024 Korean Peninsula Situation Outlook" briefing hosted by the institute at the President Hotel. Article 3 of the Constitution states that "The territory of the Republic of Korea shall consist of the Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands," which is interpreted to include North Korean residents within the category of Korean citizens. Based on this, he diagnosed that the North Korean human rights issue should be expanded to a responsibility issue of our government. He argued that the Kim Jong-un regime and North Korean human rights issues should be approached in a two-track manner.

Quoting Article 3 of the Constitution, Jo said, "The entire territory of North Korea is the territory of the Republic of Korea, and North Korean residents are potential citizens of our country." He added, "Efforts to alleviate the suffering of North Korean residents are both the right and duty of our government. Comprehensive efforts to resolve the difficulties faced by North Korean residents must be made to form a new inter-Korean relationship."

On the 13th, the Korea Institute for National Unification held a press briefing on the theme of 'Prospects for the Situation on the Korean Peninsula' at the President Hotel.

He especially emphasized, "On the premise of transparency, comprehensive support measures for North Korean residents, including food, healthcare, and vulnerable groups, should be promoted to address North Korea's humanitarian issues." Jo mentioned that North Korea's structure under the long-term dictatorship of the three-generation succession makes it difficult for internal changes within the regime to take root. However, he noted the need for efforts to encourage North Korean residents themselves to unite their will to solve the problems they face, as a way to plant the seeds for internal change in North Korea.

Jo said, "If a 'Korean Peninsula Declaration' is announced as a way to convey our sincerity to North Korean residents, even if (North Korea) rejects it, it can itself be a way to secure moral superiority. It is important as a step to form the germ of change within the regime."

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