On Thursday, Vice Minister Kim Nam Jung of the Ministry of Unification met with Elizabeth Salmon, the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights, according to a Ministry statement.
During their meeting in the Ministry’s reception room for foreign dignitaries, Vice Minister Kim outlined the government’s policy for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula and its stance on North Korean human rights. He stressed the importance of improving the lives of North Korean citizens through inter-Korean exchanges and the establishment of peace.
Furthermore, Kim detailed various policy initiatives aimed at resolving humanitarian issues concerning separated families, abductees, detainees, and Korean War prisoners, as well as enhancing the social integration of North Korean defectors.
Special Rapporteur Salmon voiced concern about North Korea’s continued isolation and expressed her willingness to collaborate with North Korea in areas where technical assistance is feasible. She said she shared the principle of mutual recognition and respect between North and South Korea and added that the two sides should continue to work together toward the common goal of improving the lives of North Korean citizens.
The Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights is responsible for investigating and researching the human rights situation in North Korea and reporting to the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly. During her visit to South Korea, Salmon met with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Unification, as well as North Korean human rights organizations. A press conference is scheduled for Friday to present the outcomes of her visit. She plans to submit annual reports to the Human Rights Council in March and to the UN General Assembly in September based on her findings.
This marks Special Rapporteur Salmon’s third visit since her appointment as the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights in 2022.