Julie Turner, US Special Envoy, "Expose Human Rights Abuses of North Korean Regime and Improve Residents' Lives"

First Official Schedule: Visit to Korea
Meeting with Foreign Minister Park Jin
"Ready to Work Passionately"

Julie Turner, the newly appointed U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights, stated on the 16th, "The international community must unite to expose the North Korean regime's horrific human rights abuses and work to improve the lives of North Korean people through concrete changes."

During a morning meeting with Foreign Minister Park Jin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul, Special Envoy Turner said, "The human rights situation in North Korea remains among the worst in the world." She added, "The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the situation inside the isolated North Korea."

Special Envoy Turner took the oath of office and began her activities on the 13th (local time), just over two months after completing the Senate confirmation process. She visited South Korea as her first official schedule.

In the meeting, she expressed a strong sense of responsibility given the severe human rights situation in North Korea and stated that she would actively cooperate with the South Korean side based on the goal of achieving substantial improvements in North Korean human rights. She also said she looks forward to collaborating with Minister Park Jin and South Korean government officials to further improve North Korean human rights and is "ready to passionately get to work."

Meanwhile, with Special Envoy Turner's commencement of activities, the six-year vacancy in the U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights position, which had lasted since the resignation of former Special Envoy Robert King in January 2017, has been resolved. Minister Park mentioned, "The appointment after more than six years of vacancy is a very important step, strengthening the foundation for closer cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. to improve North Korean human rights." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reported that Minister Park stated diplomatic efforts are being made to ensure the safe and swift domestic transfer of defectors wishing to come to South Korea, based on the principle of accepting all defectors.

On the same day, Special Envoy Turner will engage in dialogue at Korea University with Lee Shin-hwa, South Korea's Ambassador for International Cooperation on North Korean Human Rights, as well as youth and students involved in activities to promote North Korean human rights both domestically and internationally, including defectors.