By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
PYONGYANG, North Korea – An independent report commissioned by the former leaders of the Czech Republic and Norway and a Nobel peace laureate, urged the international community to increase its level of intervention on North Korea’s human rights issues. The report said the international community has far too long neglected the human rights situation in North Korea because of the nuclear threat. The report comes as six-nation nuclear negotiations have stalled, with North Korea threatening to restart its nuclear reactor. It said the discussion of human rights in those disarmament talks has largely been an “issue of secondary concern.”
The report pointed out one of the most pressing problems in North Korea – food distribution. “Large segments of the North Korean population never receive any of the food provided by international relief agencies and other countries,” it said, noting that prisons still operate with “brutality and massive disregard for basic human rights.” The report suggested that all dialogue with North Korea must make as a starting point Pyongyang’s commitment under global treaties and laws on rights and other issues, including the nuclear talks. The report followed a 2006 assessment that accused Pyongyang of failing to live up to its responsibility under international law to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity.
North Korea recently took steps to restart its nuclear program after agreeing in November to dismantle it as part of an aid-for-disarmament deal. North Korea asked the International Atomic Energy Agency on Monday to remove seals and surveillance equipment from a key nuclear facility, the UN nuclear watchdog said Monday. The request came three days after North Korea confirmed it was working to restart the Yongbyon reactor, and no longer wanted US concessions promised under the aid-for-disarmament agreement. US State Department spokesperson Robert Wood told reporters at a news briefing that Washington is “very concerned” about North Korea’s actions. The six-nation aid-for-disarmament deal is deadlocked due to a dispute over verification of the declaration of the North’s nuclear program, which it delivered in June as part of the agreement.
For more information, please see:
AP – North Korea wants seals removed at nuclear plant: IAEA – 22 September 2008
KBS – NGO Urges Participation in NK Human Rights Issues – 23 September 2008
International Herald Tribune – Report faults North Korean human rights – 23 September 2008
Reuters – World seen neglecting N. Korea human rights abuses – 22 September 2008
