The government has reportedly finalized its decision to participate as a co-sponsor of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council’s resolution on North Korean human rights.
According to government sources on March 27, the administration has tentatively decided to join as a co-sponsor for the North Korean human rights resolution. This resolution is expected to be adopted at the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council by the end of this month.
Despite considering abstaining from co-sponsorship due to ongoing efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea, which opposes the resolution, the government ultimately decided to participate.
Just a day earlier, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young had stated that North Korea views the human rights resolution as a typical hostile policy, emphasizing that abstaining from co-sponsorship would be the appropriate course of action.
Interestingly, while the Lee Jae Myung administration actively supported the North Korean human rights resolution as recently as November last year, it reportedly considered abstaining until the last moment this time. The government’s shift towards joining as a co-sponsor likely reflects its assessment that aligning with the international community’s consensus is appropriate, given that human rights are universally recognized values.
The decision may also have taken into account that North Korea’s adherence to its hostile two-state policy means that abstaining from co-sponsorship would not significantly alter the current situation. In a recent speech at the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim Jong Un declared South Korea the most hostile nation, vowing to thoroughly reject and ignore it through the most explicit words and actions.
The UN adopts the North Korean human rights resolution biannually, during the Human Rights Council in the first half of the year and at the General Assembly in the second half. The resolution, which the South Korean government is now co-sponsoring, is expected to be adopted as early as March 28.