Elizabeth Salmon, the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights, is set to make an official visit to South Korea from February 2 to 6.
According to statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Thursday, Special Rapporteur Salmon’s itinerary includes meetings with officials from various government departments, such as the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Unification, and Justice. She will also engage with civil society organizations and North Korean defectors during her stay.
Deputy Minister Kim Jin-ah of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to meet with the Special Rapporteur on February 2.
Salmon will conclude her visit with a press conference at the Seoul Global Center on February 6, where she will present her findings.
The Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights is tasked with investigating and researching human rights conditions in North Korea, subsequently reporting to the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council.
This marks Salmon’s third visit to South Korea since her appointment in 2022. Her previous visits in August 2022 and September 2023 were also focused on assessing the human rights situation in North Korea.
Following this visit, Special Rapporteur Salmon intends to submit annual reports to the UN Human Rights Council in March and the UN General Assembly in September, based on her findings and observations.