UN Human Rights Rapporteur: "North Korea's COVID-19 Measures Cannot Justify Shooting South Korean Officials"

Thomas Ojea Quintana, UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights, is presenting the findings of an investigation into the human rights situation in North Korea at a press conference held on the afternoon of the 11th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] The UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights has urged North Korea to take responsible measures regarding the killing of a South Korean government official by North Korean forces.

Thomas Ojea Quintana, the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights, stated that North Korea's killing of the South Korean official cannot be justified on the grounds of COVID-19 prevention measures.

On the 30th (local time), through the US-based Radio Free Asia (RFA), Rapporteur Quintana pointed out, "Even in a national crisis caused by COVID-19, 'shooting on sight' cannot be justified," emphasizing, "This violates international human rights law, and the North Korean government must halt this policy."

He added, "International human rights law requires all governments to implement appropriate measures even in emergencies," explaining that instead of immediately shooting the missing official, quarantining them would have been the appropriate response by North Korean forces under the armistice agreement.

Furthermore, Rapporteur Quintana reiterated that the governments of both South and North Korea should share the details of this killing incident with the bereaved family.

He urged, "The current issue is to accurately ascertain the circumstances of this serious incident that took a person's life," and "Both governments, especially the South Korean government, must provide information on what happened to this individual."

Rapporteur Quintana mentioned this incident during the 3rd Committee of the UN General Assembly on the 23rd, calling for "the North Korean government to immediately revise its COVID-19 policy of using live ammunition to prohibit border crossings."

Meanwhile, North Korea is known to have established a quarantine buffer zone 1 to 2 km within the border area since August due to concerns over COVID-19 infection, ordering the unconditional shooting of any people or animals approaching this zone. Subsequently, last month, a South Korean government official who went missing in the West Sea was shot and killed by North Korean forces.