[imText1]Asserting that now is an appropriate moment to pass the North Korean Human Rights Law; one expert has suggested that the National Assembly Chairman should consider forcing the law through under his authority.
The director of the Institute for National Security Strategy, Nam Sung Wook said today, “Now is a suitable time to pass the bill since inter-Korean relations are at a dead end and we have discussed thoroughly the North Korean Human Rights Law both politically and socially.”
In “Debate on the Enactment of the North Korean Human Rights Law”, held by the North Korean Human Rights, Defectors and Abductees Committee of the Grand National Party in the National Assembly building this morning, Nam went on, “Considering that the main reason why people opposes the North Korean Human Rights Law is that it hinders the development of inter-Korean relations, now is the time.”
Nam cited progressive politicians’ silent stance on North Korea’s third generation succession, the Cheonan incident and the atmosphere of negativity about the North Korean regime following the death of Hwang Jang Yop as reasons why now represents a good time to move the bill, which is currently stalled in the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, forward.
He added, “If an inter-Korean dialogue were being actively carried out, it would be uncomfortable for us to pass the bill. However, now there are fewer grounds on which North Korea can call it into question.”
Nam believes that even though the opposition Democratic Party (DP) expressed an interest in North Korean human rights improvements in its new plan released in February, the DP’s approach is still to encourage North Korea into change through exchanges and dialogue.
Therefore, he asserted, “Hoping to pass the North Korean Human Rights Law by the mutual consent of both opposition and ruling parties is the same as looking for fish in a tree. There is the need to use the authority of the Chairman of the National Assembly to enact the law.”
At the same event, Hong Joon Pyo of the Grand National Party encouraged lawmakers, “I ask you to do your best to pass the North Korean Human Rights Law by the end of this year,” calling it, “The highest priority of governmental policy on North Korea is passing the human rights law. It is symbolically very significant.”
Other members of the GNP agreed, with one, Chang Yoon Seok asserting, “I will make more effort to pass it this coming session by ways such as requesting the use of the authority of the Chairman of the National Assembly.”
Lee Ju Young added, “The one obstacle to the North Korean Human Rights Law is the Democratic Party. I will continue to justify and explain the necessity of the law in meetings and contacts with them.”
