The government says it intends to vote in favor of the UN General Assembly’s human rights resolution on North Korea. This is a change of approach from recent years, when Seoul would either abstain or not participate in similar votes at the General Assembly or the UN Human Rights Commission. It would appear the change comes in consideration of domestic and international opinion in the wake of North Korea’s test of a nuclear device and the fact that Seoul’s foreign minister, Ban Ki-moon, has stepped down to assume the role of UN Secretary-General.
To some degree, the reasoning makes sense. More important, though, is to maintain peace on the Korean peninsula and stick to the clear principle of working consistently for substantial improvement in the human rights situation.
No one can deny that the human rights situation in North Korea is poor, even for an undeveloped country. Levels of respect for human rights in North and South Korea need to be similar for the two to be able to reunify peacefully. There are two major reasons why, despite this disparity, the government has hesitated to vote in favor for UN human rights resolutions regarding North Korea. The first is the negative effect it would have on inter-Korean relations and the six-party talks, and the other reason is that international pressure on North Korea about human rights could easily turn into an attempt to achieve regime change in Pyongyang.
Both reasons are based in reality. Unlike most countries, which are able to raise their voices on the issue, we in South Korea need to minimize the negative side effects on inter-Korean relations of taking such a stance, while at the same time acting on realistic strategies for improving respect for rights there.
Previously, the South Korean government came up with four principles for approaching human rights in North Korea: that human rights are universal values, that the uniqueness of the situation in each country must be recognized, that human rights in North Korea be improved gradually and substantially as tensions between North and South are alleviated, and that the potential negative influence on the relationship with the North be kept to a minimum.
These principles remain valid, but if there is not serious work done to carry them out, it could easily look like South Korea is just avoiding the issue. For starters, Seoul must take a clear stance against a tendency in the international community to treat the issue as a tool in achieving regime change in Pyongyang. Fundamentalist "Axis of Evil" thinking only makes matters worse and does not improve the situation. In addition, the South needs to separate political and military issues from economic and human rights ones, and increase nongovernmental exchange so as to make the North able to free itself of fears of collapse. It is in this way that the North will be prompted to change in a peaceful manner. It is critical that the South makes sure humanitarian aid for the North is kept alive. A better standard of living for average North Koreans is by itself an improvement in human rights, and a major means of increasing human rights awareness.
The greatest responsibility for improving respect for rights in North Korea lies with North Korea. South Korea is the second in responsibility. The UN resolution is merely a milestone along the way. The road ahead is a long one.
[Editorial] Peace more important than a UN resolution on N.K. human rights |
