On June 29, Minister Kwon Youngse met with Ohea Quintana, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Minister Kwon expressed his appreciation for the dedication shown by the Special Rapporteur for the past six years, and he said that he would make efforts to improve the human rights and quality of life of the North Korean people, considering that improvement of human rights in North Korea is the basic responsibility of the Republic of Korea.
Special Rapporteur Quintana sympathized with South Korean government's balanced approach to human rights in North Korea, expressed expectations for the establishment of the North Korean Human Rights Foundation and its active role in the international community, and requested close cooperation with his successor.
Vice Unification Minister Kim Ki Woong also had a meeting with Special Rapporteur and exchanged views on the government's policy direction to improve human rights in North Korea.