On June 29, Minister Kwon Youngse met with Ohea Quintana, the UN
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea.
Minister Kwon Youngse expressed his appreciation for Mr. Quitana’s
enthusiasm over the past six years and promised he would endeavor to
improve the human rights and quality of life of North Korean residents
because securing human rights in North Korea is the basic
responsibility of the Republic of Korea.
Special Rapporteur Quintana sympathized with the Government’s
balanced approach to human rights in North Korea. He conveyed his
expectations for the establishment of the North Korean Human Rights
Foundation and its active role in the international community, and
requested that the Government closely cooperate with his successor.
Vice Minister Kim Ki Woong also met with the Special Rapporteur and
exchanged views on the Government’s policy direction for the North
Korean human rights issue.
