With “North Korea’s Human Rights Law and Methods to Improve Human Rights in North Korea” as agenda, the NUAC Human Rights Legislation Standing Committee (Chief: Jhe Seong-ho) held its 3rd Standing Committee meeting on Feb. 25 at 1:00 pm.

“We should acknowledge the fact that the past approach against the North is no longer effective because of North Korea’s nuclear and missile experiment. We should not lose hope but continuously prepare for unification in the future. NUAC Central Committee members should focus steadily on organizing the foundation for peaceful unification with the public,” said Jhe Seong-ho, Chief of the Standing Committee, in his opening speech.

Prior to the conference, Signe Poulsen, representative at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Seoul (UN OHCHR Seoul), gave a 20-minute briefing on “OHCHR Seoul’s Role and Directions to Improve Human Rights in North Korea.” Representative Signe Poulsen explained the establishment background and role of OHCHR Seoul as well as future plans and requested active support. “We will cite problems more actively to draw international society’s interest and spotlight North Korea’s human rights issue as we are in a tension-ridden situation,” he said.

The conference started with a presentation followed by free discussion among all participants.

First, Professor Lee Won-woong of Catholic Kwandong University gave a presentation on “North Korea’s Human Rights Law and Methods to Improve Human Rights in North Korea.”

According to Professor Lee, we have to collect information actively regarding North Korea’s human rights situation, including the shifting paradigm of policies against the North and passing of the North Korea human rights bill as soon as possible.

“Specifically, we should be aware of the fact that North Korea’s nuclear issue and human rights suppression are one and the same problem,” he stressed. Solutions like international cooperation to pressure the North into resolving its human rights situation, establishment of policy infrastructure and implementation system, and transition of the North Korea system through human rights improvement have subsequently been suggested.

In the debate that followed, diverse opinions on the presentation were raised. In particular, the effect and problems of North Korea’s human rights law and ways to improve it were mainly discussed. In addition, multi-dimensional talks on whether we should guarantee refugee status for North Korean defectors and enhancement of school education on the law were held.