The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) yesterday debated whether or not to submit to its standing committee a proposed \u201cRecommendation on Free Information Access for North Korean People\u201d. However, the discussion failed to reach a conclusion.<\/p>\n
The recommendation proposal as submitted by non-standing commissioner Kim Tae Hoon, includes provision for: \u25b2 disseminating leaflets inside North Korea; \u25b2 loud speaker broadcasts; and \u25b2 electronic displays along the DMZ.<\/p>\n
Kim argued for the recommendation on the basis that \u201cproviding information to North Korea would be granting the right to know to North Korean residents, and it would present us with an opportunity to resolve human rights problems.\u201d <\/p>\n
However, opponents of the plan argued that such activities come under government jurisdiction, and are not the job of NHRCK, which is mandated as a fully independent government body to deal with human rights issues on the Korean Peninsula. They contended, therefore, that activities of this ilk involving North Korea should remain the preserve of government. <\/p>\n
Therefore, despite a heated discussion, no conclusion was reached, and the issue was ultimately postponed to the next meeting. <\/p>\n
In a telephone interview with The Daily NK following the decision, Kim said, \u201cIt is extremely regrettable that such an obvious matter cannot get passed,\u201d and added, \u201cWe should approach North Korean human rights issues with sincerity, rather than with the logic of politics.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cThis recommendation is designed to help the North Korean people to know freedom and truth. We have to help them realize their awareness of human rights by giving them a great deal of information,\u201d Kim went on. <\/p>\n
In conclusion, Kim asserted, \u201cThe North Korean people do not even recognize that their suffering and violations of their human rights are wrong. It is the Commission\u2019s duty to inform the North Koreans that they are masters of their country.\u201d <\/p>\n
An NHRCK standing committee debate can be initiated with two or more commissioners\u2019 consent for a recommendation. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) yesterday debated whether or not to submit to its standing committee a proposed \u201cRecommendation on Free Information Access for North Korean People\u201d. However, the discussion failed to reach a conclusion. The recommendation proposal as submitted by non-standing commissioner Kim Tae Hoon, includes provision for: \u25b2 disseminating leaflets […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":154,"featured_media":12519,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n