President Interested in North Korean People’s Lives

President Lee Myung Bak emphasized today that, “The time has come to give our attention to improving the quality of life of the North Korean people and to their human rights.”

The president displayed his interest in the North Korean people’s lives and human rights at a briefing at the Blue House with officials from the Ministry of Unification, saying that, “I believe everybody on earth should enjoy their fundamental rights and at a minimum the right to be happy. The Republic of Korea should pay close attention to this point.”

The Ministry of Unification revealed its plans for 2011: “Expansion of its efforts to reform North Korean human rights”; enacting the North Korean Human Rights Law as soon as possible through cooperation with the National Assembly; researching the state of human rights through the establishment of a Human Rights Foundation; and aiding international and domestic human rights NGOs’ activities.

Regarding these plans of the Ministry, President Lee claimed, “The Ministry of Unification must return to the role the Ministry of Unification must play. From this point of view, our goal is reunification, so it must work to achieve peace, which is necessary to reach our goal.”

He added, “Reunification is not far from us. We should make this the year for spreading awareness among our people that there are many positive points (to reunification).”

Regarding inter-Korean dialogue, he said, “While we must reinforce the nation’s defenses and maintain strong security, at the same time we also have to work to achieve peace through dialogue between the North and South.”

In addition, Minister of Unification Hyun In Taek suggested three policies for the Ministry to promote in 2011: inducing desirable changes in North Korea; establishing a proper North-South relationship; and preparation for reunification.

He revealed the strategy to carry them out, saying that, “We will consistently adhere to principled policies toward North Korea.” He added putting access to the North Korean people first, unifying public opinion and reinforcing reciprocity as four tactics to be carried out.