By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
SEOUL, South Korea– For the first time, South Korea’s government funded human rights watchdog, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), released a report on the alleged human rights abuses in North Korea.
The report said that the number of North Korean political camps has declined, but it also detailed inhumane conditions like torture and executions of North Korean political prison camps where more than 200,000 people are estimated to be imprisoned.
NHRCK official said in the six political prisons in the North where people are held indefinitely, “Nearly every type of human rights violation has occurred in those political concentration camps including the secret execution of prisoners [without trial].”
North Korea incarcerates entire families for minor political wrongdoings by one particular member of the family, such as damaging Kim Jong-il’s photo or singing South Korean songs. Defectors who try to escape to China or South Korea are also punished, and the punishments have grown harsher over the past three years.
Inmates are not given clothes or shoes, but are provided only shelter and food. Conditions for female inmates are especially harsh as they are often called in by the authorities and sexually assaulted.
Importantly, NHRCK’s report reflects a change within the South Korean government. In the previous two administrations, South Korea remained silent on the issues of North’s human rights abuses and avoided directly criticizing North Korea’s rights violations.
However, the recent assessment by NHRCK shows South Korea’s willingness to publically confront North Korea concerning its human rights abuses.
Nonetheless, this report comes amid new tensions where Pyongyang threatened Seoul with a “holy war” after reports came out regarding South’s contingency plan for resolving the current political, social and economic instability in the North.
NHRCK plans on translating the report into English and sending it to the UN Commission on Human Rights as well as other international organizations to bring awareness of the atrocities still happening in North Korea.
Some experts have criticized the NHRCK report saying that it may further deteriorate relations between the North and the South. Seo Bo-hyuk, a professor in Seoul, voiced his concern saying, “A unilateral demand from South Korea could stifle the improvement of inter-Korean relations.”
For more information, please see:
AsiaNews – More than 200,000 political and religious prisoners in North Korea – 21 January 2010
Chosun Ilbo- Seoul Breaks Silence on N.Korea’s Human Rights Abuses – 22 January 2010
VOA – South Korean Human Rights Body Breaks Silence on Abuses in North – 20 January 2010
