Deputy Minister for Human Rights and
Humanitarian Affairs meets with the UN Deputy High Commissioner for
Human Rights to discuss cooperation in promoting human rights in North Korea
-October 30, 2023-
□ On October 30, Kang Jong-suk, Deputy Minister for Human Rights and
Humanitarian Affairs of the Ministry of Unification (MOU) met with
Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, to
discuss measures for the MOU to cooperate with the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
□ Kang explained that the Korean government considers resolving
North Korean human rights issues a top priority, while highlighting
the need for in-depth cooperation and collaboration not only between
South and North Korea but also with the international community to
substantially improve human rights in North Korea.
o Kang, recognizing the contribution of the OHCHR Seoul in raising
awareness on the state of North Korean human rights in the
international community, expressed hopes for the MOU to strengthen
cooperation with the OHCHR in various areas including capacity
building in North Korean human rights research and information sharing.
□ The Deputy High Commissioner expressed her hope that all countries
will further respect the universal value of “human rights” as we mark
the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
o Moreover, she stated that a two-sided approach of accountability
and engagement regarding human rights issues is important to ensure
that North Korea does not become isolated, and said that she looks
forward to cooperating more closely with the Ministry of Unification.
□ Finally, both Deputy Minister Kang Jong-suk and Deputy High
Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif agreed that all countries
should comply with the international principle of non-refoulement and
that North Korean defectors living abroad should not be forcibly
repatriated to the North. //The End//
