North Korea recently called on the UN in a draft resolution to make an “unbiased assessment” on human rights in
the country and soon after alluded to the possibility of permission for an on-site
probe by outside personnel to assess the human rights conditions there.
This is one of many recent moves by the North to refute recommendations by the UN Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights in North Korea [COI] for its referral to the International Criminal Court [ICC].
North Korea’s UN envoy, Jang Il Hun, spoke
with Voice of America [VOA] on October 22nd in New York after his participation in a Council on Foreign Relations [CFR] seminar.
“Our leadership gets getting blamed, and
we’re at the point where it’s hard to accept it anymore,” Jang stated. “We
can’t just sit on our hands anymore. That’s why we’re saying, we need to
discuss it and work together.”
In response to questions about North
Korea’s participation on dialogue about human rights conditions in the country,
“Until now we were saying that we would hold out and not do it, but now we’re
trying to make an effort,” he said. “Depending on how things go, anything is
possible.”
As to whether or not an on-the-spot
inspection of the prison camps is possible, “If it is handled in a positive
manner then it is matter open to discussion.” He added, “If things go well we
will adapt accordingly,” and went on to reiterate that contingent on this condition, more discussions will be possible.
He went to denounce the political
prison camps as a “complete fabrication” and denied their existence altogether,
claiming, “If you ask us to provide documents, we can.”
When asked about the two remaining Americans still
detained in North Korea, “It’s a legal question, and if the judicial branch
makes that decision, unless the U.S. makes a special request [like for a pardon],
doesn’t that person need to live out their sentence? The international
community keeps on making it a humanitarian issue by asking for his pardon and
release.”
Jang also addressed the conditions under
which Americans detained in the country were released when U.S. presidents
visited the nation, stating, “That is not something we ever demanded.”
The UN envoy concluded by discussing the matter of
Jang Song Taek’s execution in December 2013, “He was charged with treason for
foreign currency fraud and having dirty and illegal relations with a lot of
women among an uncountable number of other offenses,” he said. “His execution was
deserved.”
