The Ministry of Unification launched the “North Korean Human Rights
Promotion Committee” as an advisory body to the Unification Minister
aimed at practically implementing the intent behind the enactment of
the North Korean Human Rights Act.
On March 10, the Unification Ministry held the inaugural meeting of
the North Korean Human Rights Promotion Committee, chaired by the
Unification Minister, and gathered views from committee members
regarding the future direction of the committee to promote human
rights in North Korea.
During the meeting, Unification Minister Kwon Youngse said, “After
much deliberation, the administration has decided to launch the North
Korean Human Rights Promotion Committee to support activities in
promoting human rights in North Korea at home and abroad, thereby
practically implementing the intent of the North Korean Human Rights
Act.” Moreover, “The first meeting of the North Korean Human Rights
Promotion Committee will be a significant initial step to confirm our
will to improve human rights in North Korea,” he added.
The minister also mentioned that “promoting human rights in North
Korea is an onerous and complicated task that cannot be achieved by
the government alone,” stressing that “all actors in our society,
including the government, civil society, and academia, must put their
heads together to solve the problem, not to mention cooperation with
the international community.”
