Why North Korean Human Rights Concern International Community: 3 Key Reasons It Matters – Part 2

The second reason is the dimension of shared values of humanity. Because the foundation of the modern international community is human rights, following the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights are not a value that only a specific group or country should protect, but humanity should follow together. Therefore, human rights abuses are not someone else’s problem but damage to the common good of society. In fact, not only our country but also various European countries and overseas foundations are supporting and making multiple attempts to enhance human rights in North Korea.

The last third reason is the dimension of international law on human rights. The legal documents do not specify the two dimensions previously mentioned as to why the international community must be interested in North Korean human rights. Those are issues of values that modern society universally wants to enhance. However, the last third is based on international law, which North Korea cannot avoid. According to the UN Resolution of the Human Rights Situation in the DPRK, all countries must respect and realize human rights and fundamental freedoms and fulfill various international agreements they have promised to protect. North Korea, which has joined the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Children, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, must keep and protect the human rights of North Korean residents. If this is violated, the international community has a legal basis to intervene in the issue of human rights in North Korea.

Then, shall we look at which movements have been in the international community regarding human rights in North Korea?

European Union: The only place that has had direct talks with North Korea on human rights

The European Union is one of the most representative places, actively moving to improve human rights in North Korea. There have been three major periods in the relationship between the European Union and North Korea. The very first start was in the 1970s. From then on, North Korea began to establish meaningful relationships by introducing loans from some Western European countries, pursuing a policy of attracting capital from Western countries to overcome economic stagnation and technological backwardness.

Around 20 years later, in the mid-1990s, North Korea faced a series of natural disasters, including famine, and requested international aid. European countries, including Germany, stepped up to support North Korea. The relationship between the European Union and North Korea was in full swing in 2001. At that time, starting with Italy, the European Union established diplomatic relations with North Korea, and all member states except France established diplomatic relations with North Korea. However, the atmosphere changed dramatically with the outbreak of the second North Korean nuclear crisis in the fall of 2002. The European Union even issued a strong condemnation statement. From then on, the European Union has taken a strong stance on North Korea’s nuclear and missile issues while adopting a so-called critical engagement policy that separates human rights and humanitarian aid issues.

To Read Part 1…
To Read Part 3…