“We will put improving the human rights of the North Korean people as the top priority and strengthen cooperation with the international community.”

Minister Kim Yung Ho meets with Elizabeth Salmon, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights situation in North Korea (September 11)

On September 11, Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho met with Elizabeth Salmon, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights situation in North Korea, to discuss ways to improve the human rights of North Korean people.

Minister Kim stressed the need to strengthen cooperation with the international community such as the UN and international NGOs.

Moreover, the minister hoped that Salmon would continue contributing to improving human rights situation in North Korea, including addressing the issue of the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors in China.

Salmon expressed gratitude for the support of the Ministry of Unification organizing her visit to Hanawon, and said she will consistently work toward the common goal of improving the human rights situation in North Korea with the Korean government.

She also expressed interest and appreciation for the government’s recent efforts to address the abductees, detainees and POWs issues, including the establishment of a task force on the issue of abductees (on September 8).