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Ambassador Robert King, U.S. Special Envoy for North Korea Human Rights Issues, will visit South Korea from Jan. 11 through Jan. 14 and Japan on Jan. 15. As a result, attention is now turning towards the Obama administration’s policy position on North Korean human rights.

The U.S. State Department issued a press release on Jan. 7 saying, “This will be Ambassador King’s first visit to the region since being confirmed by the Senate on Nov. 20.” The State Department also said in the press release, “Ambassador King will meet with South Korean and Japanese government officials in addition to those who defected to North Korea, family members of abductees, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).”

It was reported that the reference to South Korean government officials referred to Foreign Minister Yu Myung-whan and Unification Minister Hyun In-taek. One government official said, “The aim of his visit is to gain a greater understanding of his task as an ambassador and envoy.”

Many anticipate that the Obama administration’s policy on North Korean human rights will differ greatly from that of the Bush administration.

In U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s recent speech on the administration’s human rights agenda at Georgetown University, she said, “The assumption that we must either pursue human rights or our national interests is wrong.” Clinton continued, “The assumption that only coercion and isolation are effective tools for advancing democratic change is also wrong.”

Observers suggest Clinton was drawing a line to distinguish the Obama administration’s North Korea policy approach from the unilateral human rights policy administered by the Bush administration. Accordingly, the expectation is that the Obama administration may place a greater emphasis on a substantial increase of support to strengthen North Korea’s humans rights situation rather than opting to address the issue through criticism.

Observers also point out that the Obama administration is seeking a comprehensive package deal that will address both the nuclear issue and human rights problems in North Korea. The U.S. government says that Ambassador King will work as a member of the team led by Steven Bosworth, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy. It can be interpreted that it is currently acting to achieve both improvements in both the North Korean human rights situation and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The Obama administration has shown an interest in economic and social human rights, including the right to live as well as the political human rights emphasized by the Bush administration. During his speech on North Korea’s human rights issue at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Dec. 9, 2009, Ambassador King said, “If an agreement on transparency in distribution could be reached with North Korea, the U.S. could reopen humanitarian aid to North Korea.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]