On September 2, Unification Minister Kwon Youngse met Elizabeth Salmon, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Situations in North Korea, and expressed the will for progressive cooperation to protect the human rights of North Koreans.
Minister Kwon explained that the Government had been endeavoring for humanitarian engagement to improve the poor conditions of North Koreans as well as to identify those responsible for the infringement of human rights of North Koreans to protect their human rights and enhance humanitarian conditions in North Korea.

Furthermore, Minister Kwon emphasized that the Government would take the lead in the discussion on the human rights of North Koreans in the UN and push ahead with progressive policies dealing with human rights in North Korea, including the establishment of the North Korea Human Rights Foundation as the platform to promote cooperative policies for human rights in North Korea and to disclose the ‘North Korea Human Rights Report (tentative name)’.
UN Special Rapporteur Salmon expressed interest in the Government’s will to improve human rights and the humanitarian situation in North Korea as well as its support for the settlement of North Korean defectors in South Korea. In addition, UN Special Rapporteur Salmon desired to continue cooperation with the Government based on common goals with joint responsibilities for protecting the human rights of North Koreans because human rights are a critical prerequisite for sustainable peace.