Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "No Government Position Decided on North Korea Human Rights Resolution... Communicating with the US and Others"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The government announced that it will consult with the United States and the international community on the handling of the North Korea human rights resolution, which is scheduled to be discussed at the ongoing 46th United Nations Human Rights Council session.

Choi Young-sam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a regular briefing on the 25th, "There has been no final decision regarding our government's position on the promotion of the North Korea human rights resolution," adding, "However, we will continue necessary communication with the United States and the international community on this matter."

Spokesperson Choi said, "The government has been striving to improve the actual human rights of North Korean residents in cooperation with the international community," and "We are also paying attention to North Korea's humanitarian issues, including the resolution of separated families."

Since 2009, South Korea has participated as a co-sponsor of the North Korea human rights resolution at the Human Rights Council, but from 2019, considering the 'overall situation on the Korean Peninsula,' it has refrained from being a co-sponsor while still supporting consensus adoption.

During the Trump administration, which showed little interest in human rights issues, the United States did not participate in the North Korea human rights resolutions in 2019 and 2020. However, Tony Blinken, Secretary of State under the new Biden administration, expressed support for the North Korea human rights resolution in a virtual speech at the Human Rights Council on the 24th (local time).

Spokesperson Choi also addressed Japan's backlash against South Korea's statement at the Human Rights Council that the issue of Japanese military comfort women is a universal human rights matter, saying, "(The comfort women remark) is not a specific defamation."

He added, "It emphasized the necessity of learning lessons from history," and explained, "We hope that the international community, including Japan, will accurately recognize this intent."

Regarding the fact that Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong has not yet spoken with the Japanese Foreign Minister since his appointment, he said, "We are currently communicating with the Japanese side on related matters," and "We hope that such communication can take place at an appropriate time."

On South Korea not mentioning the human rights issues in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region raised by the United States and others at the Human Rights Council, Spokesperson Choi said, "Given the limited time for keynote speeches and various other factors, it is a reality that not all topics of interest can be covered by each country."

He continued, "As a responsible country that places great importance on human rights in the international community, we will continue to monitor trends and make efforts to communicate and cooperate with relevant countries on other human rights issues of international concern."