South Korea's Views on North Korea's human rights issue
ROK Ministry of Unification
2004-04-21
At the 60th UN Human Rights Commission being held in Geneva from March 15 until April 23, 2004, the Republic of Korea, on April 15, abstained from voting on the adoption of a UN resolution on human rights in North Korea. Although the government of South Korea shares a firm belief in human rights as universal values, as well as the positions of the EU, the United States, and others, calling for Pyongyang to address international concerns over its human rights conditions, it also has to consider the unique situation on the Korean Peninsula. Regarding the South Korean government's views on the condition of North Korea's human rights, the head delegate of the ROK delivered the following statement before the voting took place on the UN resolution on human rights in North Korea.
Explanation of Vote by the Republic of Korea
On the Human Rights Situation
In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
April 15, 2004
Mr. Chairman
The Government of the Republic of Korea, with its firm belief in human rights as universal values, has been actively participating in the efforts of the international community to protect and promote human rights. In the same vein, we have deep concerns about and interest in the protection of the human rights of the people o the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The first-ever inter-Korean summit in June 2000 opened a process of reconciliation and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula. Building on this, my Government is making every effort to further enhance the burgeoning atmosphere of reconciliation and thereby bring about an era of peace and prosperity on the Peninsula and, eventually, throughout Northeast Asia. In these circumstances, and taking into account all relevant considerations, including the unique situation on the Korean Peninsula, my Government has decided to abstain from voting.
Our abstention does not in any way signify my Government's indifference to the human rights situation in the DPRK. Rather, it has been eager, more than any other country, to find means of contributing to the betterment of the North Korean human rights situation in effective and practical ways.
We are convinced that, over time, improvements in inter-Korean relations will be conducive to the promotion of human rights in the DPRK. Our devoted efforts for inter-Korean cooperation and dialogue are driven by such a conviction. A small but meaningful result of such efforts was the recent agreement between the South And the North on regularizing reunions of separated families from the two sides, an urgent concern of the entire Korean people.
Furthermore, my Government has continued to provide humanitarian assistance to the DPRK in the hope of mitigating the sometimes lif-threatening situation caused by food shortages and economic difficulties. In this regard, we have provided the DPRK with rice and fertilizer and have consistently engaged in projects of economic cooperation with the DPRK.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, it is the sincere hope of my Government that the DPRK will do its utmost to raise the level of human rights protections for their people to international standards, while at the same time strengthening their dialogue and cooperation with the international community in the area of human rights. The Republic of Korea will spare no effort towards this end.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
