The National Human Rights Commission of Korea is to offer translation and formatting support services for groups wishing to make submissions to the impending UN Commission of Inquiry into North Korean human rights abuses.

NHRCK noted today, “Submissions to the COI are in English as a matter of principle, so groups and individuals wishing to make submissions are expected to suffer difficulties."

Therefore, "We plan to offer support to groups and individuals who want to submit information on the human rights situation in North Korea to the COI.”

Meanwhile, UN officials related to the COI will visit South Korea next week, as the investigation into human rights abuses slowly gets underway.

A government source noted, “Two working-level Commission of Inquiry officials will come to the South next week ahead of their official launch of on-site investigations.” The team will meet with government officials and local Seoul-based activists, using the opportunity to confirm their plans for the full investigation to come.

The decision to launch a full Commission of Inquiry was taken by the UN earlier this year, and has met with stern resistance from the authorities in Pyongyang. The North Korean authorities are not expected to allow the three-man commission to visit the country.