For the first time in history, the UN General Assembly held a high-level conference addressing the human rights situation in North Korea. The conference was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on May 20 (local time) and was convened by the president of the 79th UN General Assembly. This was based on a resolution on North Korean human rights adopted in December 2023. This is the first opportunity for major United Nations deliberations to address the issue in a high-level form.
The conference is important in that all major UN agencies, including the Security Council and the Human Rights Council, are now officially taking up the North Korean human rights situation. From 2014 to 2017, the UN Security Council held its annual formal briefing on the issue, resuming related sessions in 2023 and 2024. The Human Rights Council continues its annual dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation of the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Hwang Jung-Cook, the permanent representative of the UN in South Korea, led the Korean delegation and highlighted the historical significance of the event. He noted that North Korea’s situation could be a crime against humanity, including forced labor, enslavement, surveillance, border control and restrictions on freedom of expression.
Hwang also urged North Korea to immediately release South Korean missionaries Kim Jun-wook, Kim Cook Ki and Choo Chung-gil. He further expressed concern about inhumane treatment related to the deportation of North Korean exiles, urging UN member states to strictly adhere to the principle of non-reunion under international law.
Fans portrayed the relationship between North Korea’s human rights abuses and its weapons development. “Warms created at the expense of North Korea’s suffering are being used in wars in Ukraine, and the administration’s nuclear missile development poses a serious threat to global unenhancing regimes and world peace.”
Many UN member states attended the conference, expressing deep concern over the deterioration of North Korea’s human rights situation and criticising the country’s military cooperation with Russia. Participating countries urged continued international efforts to improve North Korea’s human rights.
Dennis Francis, president of the 79th UN General Assembly, moderated the conference. Ilze Brands Kehris, UN Human Rights Aide and UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in North Korea, Elizabeth Salmun, also attended, attracting global attention for the serious situation.
North Korean exiles Kim Eun-joo and Kang-gyu-ri testified directly about the abuse they suffered domestically. Representatives from over 30 global civil society organizations, including Greg Skarlatouiw, executive director of the North Korean Human Rights Commission (HRNK), and Shaun Chung, director of Hanboyce, also attended, expressing common concerns.
Later that afternoon, South Korea’s mission to the United Nations jointly established a reception with the North Korean global alliance for human rights, invited representatives of UN members and civil society organisations to discuss cooperation and efforts to improve North Korea’s human rights. Ambassador Hwang, special rapporteur Salmun and civil society leaders made their remarks at the event.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs states, “Based on this conference, we will pursue multifaceted efforts across a variety of international platforms, including the United Nations, ensuring meaningful dialogue on North Korea’s human rights can be continued.”
Originally published by Christian Daily Korea and translated and edited by Christian Daily International Staff.
