Experts, officials urge pressure on Pyongyang to improve human rights at Seoul forum

The top U.S. envoy for North Korean human rights called on the international community to press Pyongyang for “concrete progress” in a forum held in central Seoul on Thursday.

From second left, U.S. special envoy on North Korean human rights Julie Turner, former Secretary-General of the UN Ban Ki-moon, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Unification Minister Kim Young-ho and UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea Elizabeth Salmon pose for a photo during the Seoul Forum on North Korean Human Rights 2024 held at City Hall in central Seoul on Thursday. [NEWS1]

The top U.S. envoy for North Korean human rights called on the international community to press Pyongyang for “concrete progress” in a forum held in central Seoul on Thursday.

“This fall, the international community has numerous opportunities, including the upcoming General Assembly committee meeting and the DPRK’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), to press for concrete progress on human rights,” said Julie Turner, the U.S. special envoy on North Korean human rights, at the Seoul Forum on North Korean Human Rights held at City Hall in central Seoul.

DPRK is the acronym for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

“We should step up as an international community to continue implementing the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and subsequent special rapporteurs’ reports to the international community and member states.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report on North Korean Human Rights.

Turner’s remarks were made as she participated in the forum as a panelist to discuss the status of human rights issues in North Korea and international cooperation strategies. The American special envoy on North Korean human rights visited Seoul this week for the annual North Korea Freedom Week, which culminates in North Korean Defectors’ Day on Sunday.

During the session, Turner highlighted the significance of the Yoon Suk Yeol government’s actions to recognize the critical role of defectors and escape community members.

“Democracy takes work, and it is a government’s role to be responsive to the people,” she said.

Noting that the human rights situation in Pyongyang is “inextricably linked to international peace and security,” the special envoy stressed that diplomacy represents the only “viable path toward peace and to reiterate dialogue” with the North on any issue.

Other delegates and experts, including UN Special Rapporteur Elizabeth Salmon, stressed the necessity of international cooperation and contributions from civil society to improve North Korean human rights during the forum.

Salmon urged the Kim Jong-un regime to change its practices that violate human rights.

“The unwillingness or inability of the DPRK to fulfill its duty must trigger the obligation of other states to act,” Salmon said, stressing that those responsible for human rights violations must be held accountable.

She encouraged member states to “make the most of the forthcoming UPR of North Korea at the Human Rights Council set to be held in November.” She called on North Korea to report on the implementation of its 132 accepted recommendations made during the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review in May 2019. The recommendations include “granting access to the UN and other humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to the most vulnerable groups” and “maintaining the design of action to guarantee the well-being of its population.”

Thursday’s discussion marks the first forum on North Korean human rights issues held by a local government in Korea.

In his welcoming remarks, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon highlighted the importance of addressing and improving North Korean human rights, as evidenced by the testimonies of escapees.

“The task at hand is to have a correct understanding of the realities of human rights in North Korea, systematically pursue follow-up measures to the North Korean Human Rights Act enacted in 2016, and actively cooperate with the United Nations, allied nations and the international community to further improve human rights in North Korea,” Oh said.

Ban Ki-moon, former secretary-general of the UN, also underscored the importance of "looking ahead to the next 10 years."

In his congratulatory remarks, Ban said, “We must explore various international measures, including those by the UN, to address the long-term and widespread human rights violations [in North Korea] and continue to bring them to public attention.

"We need to keep knocking on North Korea's door so that its residents become aware of their human rights situation and the ongoing movements on their behalf in the outside world. Additionally, we must ensure that the testimonies of North Korean defectors about the human rights abuses they experienced continue to be heard.”

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]