hankyoreh

The Catholic Human Rights Commission, Sarangbang Group for Human Rights, and other organizations that have always been at the forefront of civil rights issues held a workshop on human rights in North Korea on Wednesday. Another organization recently held a lecture series on the subject just recently, and the National Council of Churches in Korea (KNCC) is planning a symposium, too. What this means is that progressive groups that have long been cautious about the issue of human rights in North Korea have begun actively speaking out. It is an encouraging phenomenon, because the issue is in desperate need of a balanced and wide-ranging approach instead of the usual black and white.

The issue has become one that cannot easily avoid international attention anymore, now that the United Nations has passed a resolution on the subject. The declaration released by the Korean groups after the workshop calls on the North to be transparent with its human rights situation and proposes promoting human rights in both North and South Korea, and appears to be based on an understanding of the new reality.

Until now it was essentially not possible to have productive discussion about North Korean human rights because of the vast differences of view and perceptions of the situation. Conservative groups focused on organizing international pressure on the North Korean regime, and the human rights issue was used as in important element in achieving the fall of the Kim Jong Il regime and the collapse of North Korea. They politicized the issue as a means for political and military pressure towards the North, and the result was that it was hard to have serious and effective discussion. There has been an urgent need for alternative approaches by progressive groups, because among other things they can correct that situation.

The final destination of the North Korean human rights issue is the establishment of peace on the Korean peninsula. That is why our society must not be confused by unilateral standards forced by certain nations. We hope the efforts of these progressive groups will bring about a change for universal and balanced human rights debate in Korea and internationally.

The Hankyoreh, 1 December 2005.


[Translations by Seoul Selection]