The government directly criticized North Korea, stating that “extreme militarization negatively impacts human rights.”

North Korea on UN Human Rights Review for the First Time in 5 Years… South Korea’s Recommendations

[Seoul=Newsis] View of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo=Newsis DB), ‘[Seoul=Newsis] Reporter Byun Hye-jeong = On the 7th (local time), the government criticized North Korea directly, stating that “extreme militarization negatively impacts the human rights of North Korean residents” and urged corrective actions.’,

“According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government delegation, led by Yoon Seong-deok, the Korean ambassador to Geneva, made this recommendation speech during North Korea’s 4th cycle ‘Universal Periodic Review’ (UPR) at the UN Geneva Office in Switzerland.”,

‘The government delegation stated, “North Korea is suppressing basic freedoms through extreme militarization and is squandering scarce resources on illegal weapons of mass destruction development rather than the livelihood of North Korean residents, as well as engaging in labor exploitation.”‘,

‘This UPR marked the first time issues regarding detainees and forcibly repatriated North Koreans were raised.’,

‘The government delegation urged, “North Korea should immediately resolve the issues regarding abductees, detainees, prisoners of war, and separated families,” and called for the swift release of six South Korean citizens, including missionaries Kim Jeong-wook, Kim Kook-ki, and Choi Choon-gil, who have been detained for over ten years in North Korea.’,

‘It was also recommended to ensure that forcibly repatriated North Koreans, including women and girls, do not suffer inhumane treatment such as torture.’,

‘Additionally, the impact of the so-called “three major evil laws” (the Reactionary Thought and Culture Rejection Act, the Youth Education Guarantee Act, and the Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Act), enacted by North Korea after 2020 to control its residents, was discussed, urging the repeal or amendment of laws and practices that suppress freedom of expression within North Korea.’,

‘North Korea was urged to join the Convention Against Torture and the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and to faithfully implement the international human rights agreements it has already joined. These were recommendations made by our government during the 3rd cycle of the North Korean UPR in May 2019, which North Korea had accepted at the time.’,

‘Prior to the recommendation speech, the government had inquired through a written submission to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) submitted on October 25 about the human rights situation in North Korea and the measures taken to promote human rights.’,

‘The UPR is a system where all 193 UN member states, in turn, review their own human rights situation and the implementation of recommendations by peer member states.’,

‘North Korea’s UPR is being held for the fourth time, approximately five years since 2019.’,

‘Member states can raise North Korean human rights issues by submitting written inquiries in advance or making recommendation speeches on the day of the review.’,

‘The government delegation included participation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Unification, and the North Korean Human Rights Records Preservation Center from the Ministry of Justice.’,

‘From North Korea, Jo Chol-su, the ambassador to Geneva, attended as the chief representative, along with representatives from the Central Headquarters, including Ri Kyung-hoon, the head of the Legislative Department of the Supreme People’s Assembly Standing Committee.’