New Progressive Party (NPP), which is a South Korea’s new party and separated themselves from Democratic Labor Party over “pro-North Korean attitude (or pro-Kim Jong Ii),” released its manifesto on North Korean human rights policy, which includes “humanitarian solution of abductees and POWs held in North Korea” and “establishment of inter-Korean human rights negotiation channel.” The movement marks a great leap forward compared to Democratic Labor Party’s stance on North Korean human rights.
The core of NPP’s North Korean policy also includes an “inter-Korean agreement on labor condition,” construction of silver town for the divided families in tourist zones” and “regular reunion of the divided families”
NPP added, in statement, that “in contrast with the DLP, which showed only ignorance and silence to North Korean human rights violation, the NPP declares commitment to improve North Korea’s human rights condition”, and “the new progressive movement will start with criticizing North Korea if necessary.”
An NPP official told Daily NK, on condition of anonymity, that “The new manifesto doesn’t contain any new policy. But, we need to reaffirm our North Korean policy because of recent developments in inter-Korean relations (North Korea Silkworm missile launch and etc.).”
When asked why having been silent on North Korea human rights violation while a member of DLP, the NPP official argued for necessity of the unified Left at that time.
“Democratic Labor Party elected ten National Assembly legislators in 2004 for the first time ever, and then experienced a surge of party membership. The surge, however, was due to mass application of membership by pro-North Korea National Liberation faction or its sympathizers. And it caused alienation of the party leadership from public opinion,” said the official.
Nevertheless, he criticized the Lee Myung Bak Administration’s and the United States’ “North Korean human rights policy, which emphasizes strategic concern rather than practical human rights improvement in North Korea.”
“For example,” he added “inter-Korean Labor Convention symbolizes NPP’s principle that signifies ‘North and South Korean people and laborers,’ rather than the reigning governments of both.”
