Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently commended South Korea's decision to co-sponsor this year's United Nations resolution condemning human rights abuses in North Korea. Speaking at an international conference on "North Korean Human Rights and Responsibility to Protect" in central Seoul, Ban highlighted the significance of this move, especially following the resolution's adoption by the UN General Assembly's Third Committee last week in New York.
A Notable Shift in South Korean Policy
A total of 61 nations, including South Korea, supported the annually adopted resolution. South Korea's current liberal Lee government's endorsement marks a notable shift from the previous liberal Moon Jae-in administration, which abstained from supporting the resolution between 2019 and 2021. This reversal comes as the Lee government also seeks to re-engage in dialogue with Pyongyang. The resolution is slated for final adoption at the upcoming General Assembly plenary session next month.
Acknowledging Universal Values and Addressing Inconsistencies
Ban emphasized that South Korea's co-sponsorship signals the new government's acknowledgment that North Korean human rights issues are a universal value. He expressed concern over what he termed "a lack of coherence" in South Korea's approach to these issues, often fluctuating with changes in conservative and progressive administrations. This inconsistency, he argued, creates significant obstacles to effectively addressing the dire human rights situation in the North.
Challenges and Unlaunched Initiatives
Further illustrating the challenges, Ban pointed out that the North Korean Human Rights Foundation remains unlaunched. Established under the 2016 North Korea human rights law, this organization was intended to spearhead research and activities promoting human rights in the reclusive state, but has been stalled by political deadlock between South Korea's major parties.
An Urgent Call to the International Community
In his address, Ban underscored the persistent grim reality for North Koreans, noting that their suffering continues even as Pyongyang escalates its spending on other priorities. He implored the international community not to overlook these critical human rights concerns.