Jeong Dongyoung: "Decision to Join North Korean Human Rights Resolution Made Through Inter-Ministerial Coordination"

"Ministry of Unification Has Maintained a Consistent Position"
"Policy of Peaceful Coexistence Will Be Consistently Maintained"

Minister of Unification Jeong Dongyoung stated that the government's decision to participate as a "co-sponsoring country" in the United Nations (UN) North Korean Human Rights Resolution was "made through coordination among various ministries within the government." While there were some opinions against participation, it is interpreted that a "compromised decision" was ultimately reached.

Jeong Dongyoung, Minister of Unification, is delivering the opening speech at the joint academic conference between the Ministry of Unification and the Korea Institute for National Unification titled "Paradigm Shift of Korean Peninsula Policy for Ending Hostility and Peaceful Coexistence," held on the 25th at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the morning of March 30, on his way to work at the Government Complex Seoul, Minister Jeong told reporters, "The Ministry of Unification has consistently expressed its position since last year." He indicated that the Ministry of Unification has consistently maintained a stance of non-participation.

Regarding the background of the decision to participate, he explained, "It is a compromise between respecting the authority of the UN, which represents the universal values of humanity, and respecting the counterpart's position to the maximum extent possible on issues that the other side considers matters of sovereignty."

Addressing concerns that participation in the human rights resolution could become a variable in future North Korea policy, he emphasized, "The policy of peaceful coexistence will be maintained consistently," and that "participation as a co-sponsor of the North Korean Human Rights Resolution will not affect the previously announced policies of peace or coexistence."

This indicates that while the government will align itself with the international community on human rights issues to which North Korea reacts sensitively, it will steadfastly pursue its peaceful coexistence policy, including the three principles regarding North Korea (respect for the system, rejection of unification by absorption, and prohibition of hostile acts).

Previously, on March 26, Minister Jeong noted that North Korea regards the human rights resolution as a representative hostile policy, stating, "There is no reason for us to push it," and expressed that it would be more appropriate not to participate as a co-sponsoring country in the North Korean Human Rights Resolution.

The government has long deliberated over whether to participate as a co-sponsoring country. At a time when it is seeking to resume dialogue with North Korea, there had been opinions that it should not participate in the North Korean Human Rights Resolution, to which North Korea is hostile. However, the government appears to have decided to participate, judging that it is necessary to maintain a principled position on the universal value of 'human rights' in the international community.

Although South Korea was not included in the list of "early co-sponsoring countries" that closed on March 18, it added its name on March 28 through a procedure that allows additional participation before the adoption. The North Korean Human Rights Resolution is scheduled to be adopted unanimously without a vote at the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council on March 30 (local time).

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