Sharing the vision of the ROK
government’s North Korean human rights policy with the international community
February 16, 2024
□ On Thursday afternoon, February 15, the Ministry of
Unification held a briefing session on the “Comprehensive Roadmap to
Promote Human Rights in North Korea (released on December 26, 2023)”
and the “Report on North Korean Economy and Society (released on
February 6, 2024)” at the conference hall of the Inter-Korean
Relations Management Bureau with around 20 participants from foreign
embassies in Korea and international human rights organizations.
o The session was designed to enhance understanding of the ROK
government’s North Korean human rights policy and accurately reveal
the realities of the North Korean economy and society.
□ Deputy Minister for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Kang
Jong-suk stated that the vision of the South Korean government’s North
Korean human rights policy is to “realize a unified future where
freedom and human rights are guaranteed”. He highlighted that close
cooperation with the international community is essential for the
seamless implementation of the Comprehensive Roadmap to Promote Human
Rights in North Korea.
o In particular, Deputy Minister Kang asked countries for their
interest and cooperation in preventing the forced repatriation of
North Korean defectors living abroad against their will.
□ The briefing on the Status Report on North Korean Economy and
Society outlined the deteriorating internal situation in North Korea,
resulting from the failure of the planned economy and the
strengthening of social control based on a survey of nearly 6,000
North Korean defectors.
o The briefing also touched upon the slow but changing awareness of
North Korean residents as they gain access to outside information,
despite the heavy crackdown by North Korean authorities under laws
such as the Law on Rejecting Reactionary Ideology and Culture.
o Deputy Minister Kang highly praised the fact that the report,
classified as confidential in the past, is now being made public for
the first time. Furthermore, he emphasized his commitment to continue
sharing accurate information about North Korea with the international
community in the future.
□ The participants demonstrated a high level of interest by engaging
in a Q&A session regarding the priorities of the South Korean
government’s North Korean human rights policy and strategies to
advance discussions with North Korean authorities on human rights issues.
o They said that the briefing served as an opportunity to understand
the vision and priorities of the South Korean government for North
Korean human rights policy, and agreed on the need for more active
cooperation from the international community to address North Korean
human rights issues.
□ The Ministry of Unification
reaffirms its commitment to working closely with the international
community for substantive improvements of North Korean human rights in
the future.
