Marzuki Darusman, the UN’s special rapporteur on North Korean human rights issues, remains steadfast in his stance that members of the North Korean leadership be held responsible
for crimes against humanity, emphasizing that the issue will
not be dropped.
“I believe those responsible for human
rights violations in North Korea should be held accountable for their actions,” Darusman said at the 4th Chaillot Human Rights Forum in
Seoul on Thursday. “We must take the proper steps to
ensure referral of North Korea’s human rights situation
to the ICC [International Criminal Court].”
He went on to reaffirm the international
judicial process as the best method available to hold the responsible parties
accountable for their actions and improve North Korean human rights.
The special rapporteur expressed faith in
the U.N. system’s ability to solve the human rights issues in North Korea
through various means of support, and noted that endeavors like that of the COI [Commission of
Inquiry] “will make it possible to judge the potential for unification of
the Korean Peninsula.”
“Based on past incidents at the U.N., in the case that the resolution on human rights in North Korea is
adopted, it will go a long way toward protecting peace and stability in
international society,” he continued. “[In order to achieve true
change in North Korea] while continuing to apply pressure to those responsible,
urging cooperation from North Korea must also play a large role.”
The special rapporteur concluded by warning that although this pressure has placed the improvement of North Korean human rights within
sight, relentless efforts and a strong will are necessary to make them a
reality.
In the same session, Lee Jung Hoon, South
Korea’s Human Rights Ambassador, commented on North
Korea’s invitation to Darusman for an in-country visit
in exchange fir the scrapping of the ICC referral, stating, “[International society] has fallen into the trap of the North Korean
nuclear and security issue many times in the past.” He
noted that while the North’s invitation ostensibly
appears as a reasonable option, “in the end, it
would only bring us back to square one.”
“We cannot repeat the same mistake,” he pointed out. “North Korea’s strong reaction to matters concerning its human rights is a good
sign: it proves this issue to be its Achilles heel. North Korea has showed signs of implementing related measures, and I see them as a clear opportunity to impose
change there.”
Robert King, U.S. point man for North
Korean human rights, was the third and final speaker of the Forum’s first session, titled “Evaluation on
Status of North Korean Human Rights and Plans for Practical Improvement.” Addressing theories and suspicions of ransom or other exchange with
North Korea in the recent release of U.S. citizens Kenneth Bae and Matthew
Miller, King stated, “Their return was a humanitarian
effort; there were no negotiations or promises of aid to North Korea involved.”
“North Korea announced their intention to
release the men independent of negotiations,” he concluded, adding that
the release may be be associated with the North’s pursuit of better relations
with the U.S., or efforts to stop the draft resolution, which outlines its crimes against humanity and calls for an ICC referral, from passing at the U.N.
