[Global NK Interview] The Linkage Between Denuclearization and North Korean Human Rights in the Yoon Suk-yeol Administration's Policy

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeBshiRedPs

Ambassador-at-Large for International Cooperation on North Korean Human Rights Lee Shin-hwa assesses the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's North Korean human rights policy as an effort to expand the virtuous cycle and complementarity of peace and freedom. The author explains that the North Korean Human Rights Act, enacted in 2016, holds significance in informing the world about the realities of North Korean human rights and enabling accountability. The author argues for the continuation of multilateral efforts to protect and promote the human rights of North Korean residents. Furthermore, the author suggests that the international community should emphasize that by raising human rights issues in denuclearization negotiations with North Korea, it provides an opportunity for North Korea to demonstrate self-initiated change and thus gain recognition as a normal state in the international community, which would then enable North Korea to receive economic assistance.

※ The publication mentioned at 04:12~04:38 is the comprehensive report "Are North Korean Human Rights Changing in the Kim Jong-un Era?" published by the Korea Institute for National Unification on July 24, 2023. Please note that this report was not publicly available at the time the video was filmed but has since been published.

■ Lee Shin-hwa, Ambassador-at-Large for International Cooperation on North Korean Human Rights. Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Korea University.

■ Managed and Edited by: Park Ji-soo, EAI Research Fellow

Inquiries: 02 2277 1683 (ext. 209) | jspark@eai.or.kr