Controversy Over Targeted Audit of Pro-North Korea Groups Spreads... UN Considers Notification of Human Rights Violations

Ministry of Unification: "Not a Coercive Method"

The Ministry of Unification revoked the corporate registration of two North Korean defector organizations, 'Jayubukhan Undongyeonhap' and 'Keunsaem,' which distributed leaflets and goods to North Korea, on the 17th of last month. The photo shows the 'Keunsaem' office located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon of the same day.

As the Ministry of Unification plans to expand office inspections of North Korean defector human rights organizations, it has been reported that the United Nations is considering notifying the South Korean government that this decision may pose human rights violations.

Thomas Ojea Quintana, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, said in an interview with Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the 12th (local time), "The Ministry of Unification's office inspections of North Korean human rights organizations are political decisions and we are considering communicating to the South Korean government that there is a possibility of human rights violations."

Rapporteur Quintana stated, "I believe that North Korean human rights organizations, including those of defectors, have played an important role in North Korean human rights issues," and added, "I think it is necessary for the South Korean government to acknowledge their important role." He continued, "We are closely monitoring the South Korean government's response to the office inspections and are also paying attention to related lawsuits."

Regarding the UN's position, the Ministry of Unification emphasized that the office inspections are not conducted in a coercive manner and are carried out in consultation with the relevant organizations.

A Ministry of Unification official explained on the 13th about the procedure of the office inspections, "Even in the process of scheduling the inspections, individual consultations were held with the organizations, and before starting the inspections, we individually contacted and visited all target organizations to provide guidance on the purpose and procedures."

He said, "It is not done forcibly," and added, "We are continuing communication with the organizations and are promoting this opportunity to listen to their difficulties and jointly find necessary corrective measures."

When asked about consultations with the UN, he replied, "I have seen related reports, but as of now, we have not received any such notification from Special Rapporteur Quintana."

Meanwhile, in response to reports that the government, which has announced strong regulatory policies on leaflet distribution to North Korea, might implement similar measures on broadcasts to North Korea, the Ministry of Unification stated on the 13th, "We are not considering any regulations on broadcasts to North Korea."

When asked by reporters on the same day about plans for measures against private organizations conducting radio broadcasts to North Korea, the Ministry official gave this response.

Earlier, on the 11th, according to the US-based North Korea-focused media outlet 'NK News,' Lee Jong-joo, Director of the Humanitarian Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Unification, was asked during a foreign press tour in Ganghwa-do, "If North Korea raises issues with South Korean human rights organizations' radio broadcasts to North Korea, will you respond in the same way as the ban on leaflet distribution to North Korea implemented in June?" He replied, "I cannot say yes or no."

This was interpreted as the government considering regulations on broadcasts to North Korea, causing a stir, but the government quickly moved to contain the situation and prevent overinterpretation.