The government has joined as a co-sponsor of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council’s resolution on North Korean human rights.
On March 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its decision to participate as a co-sponsor, citing the necessity for international cooperation on human rights issues concerning North Korean citizens.
A ministry spokesperson stated that it has joined as a co-sponsor of the North Korean human rights resolution through inter-agency consultations, in line with the commitment to collaborating with the international community to substantially improve the human rights of North Korean residents.
The resolution, drafted by the European Union (EU) and Australia, is slated for adoption at the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council on Monday (March 30).
While the government has been cautious about co-sponsorship due to ongoing efforts to restart inter-Korean dialogue, it appears that the decision was influenced by the principle that human rights are a universal value.
Some analysts suggest that the impact of co-sponsorship on inter-Korean relations may be limited, given North Korea’s persistent hostile policies and aggressive rhetoric towards South Korea.
Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, recently declared in a speech to the Supreme People’s Assembly that South Korea would be treated as the most hostile state and would be thoroughly rejected and ignored through the most explicit words and actions.
The UN adopts resolutions on North Korean human rights biannually: during the Human Rights Council in the first half of the year and the General Assembly in the second half. South Korea consistently co-sponsored these resolutions from 2008 to 2018 but abstained from 2019 to 2021, citing inter-Korean relations. Following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s inauguration in 2022, South Korea resumed its co-sponsorship.
This policy appears to have remained consistent even after the transition to the Lee Jae Myung administration. Despite some deliberation, South Korea ultimately joined as a co-sponsor for last year’s UN General Assembly resolution on North Korean human rights.