Considerations for Improving the Human Rights Situation in North Korea (NSPR17)

Overview

The Center for Foreign Affairs and National Security (Director: Kim Tae-hyun, Professor at the Graduate School of International Studies, Chung-Ang University) publishes the National Security Panel Report Series, which presents in-depth analyses and realistic policy alternatives on major foreign affairs and security issues through the National Security Panel, composed of domestic foreign affairs and security experts (Chairman: Ha Young-sun, Director of EAI).

This 17th NSPR report is the fourth report in the series [North Korea's Nuclear Crisis and Peace on the Korean Peninsula], which conducted an in-depth study on the relationship between North Korea's nuclear abandonment, coercive diplomacy, economic assistance, normalization of relations, North Korean human rights, and a peace regime for seven months following the Six-Party Talks on September 19, 2005. The report is titled "Considerations for Improving the Human Rights Situation in North Korea" and was primarily authored by committee member Seo Byung-hoon (Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Soongsil University).

The 17th report was written with the objective of presenting practical alternatives for improving the human rights situation in North Korea. Committee member Seo Byung-hoon argues that to minimize North Korea's backlash and achieve substantial improvement in its human rights situation, human rights should be approached from a universal and humanitarian perspective rather than a political one.

"Human rights issues can and should be a universal concern for all humanity, transcending borders and cultures. However, because this universality is very 'thin,' a cautious or humble approach is required." (From the text)

Author

Seo Byung-hoon, Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, College of Social Sciences, Soongsil University