Jang Hee-jun, Asia Business Daily Reporter
On March 30th, the South Korean government finally released the long-awaited North Korean Human Rights Report. Containing testimony from 508 defectors, the report is a result of the 2016 North Korean Human Rights Act passed by the National Assembly. Amongst the many human rights violations, the report covers incidents that took place between 2017 and 2022. These incidents include the gruesome order of breaking spines of people who watch South Korean videos, and public executions of pregnant women accused of pointing fingers at a portrait of Kim Il-sung. Reading through the report, one cannot help but feel a sense of shock and horror.
The report also highlights several representative cases that illustrate the brutality of the North Korean regime. One such case was the reported shooting of a man in Ryanggang Province in 2020 for importing South Korean videos from China. Other individuals who were secretly selling South Korean products, such as high heels and cosmetics, were also reportedly executed in large numbers.
Women face violence, especially sexual exploitation, everywhere and at all times. Their testimonies reveal involuntary human experimentation on mentally ill or intellectually disabled individuals at a secret location, "Facility No. 83 ".
▶ Back to Square One: North Korean Human Rights Law after it is being established 7 years ago
The Ministry of Unification has produced yearly reports on North Korean human rights, but the government has kept them confidential , claiming they are protecting the personal information of North Korean defectors. It appears that the Moon Jae-in government prioritized North Korea's relationship over the suffering of North Korean citizens. Despite portraying himself as a human rights lawyer, Moon has been accused of ignoring the North Korean Human Rights Law, effectively undermining the efforts of both the ruling and opposition parties who worked to establish the law and promote human rights.
It is undoubtedly shameful that the South Korean government, which should be at the forefront of the North Korean issue, is being criticized by the international community for being too cautious of Pyongyang. Looking back, it took more than 10 years for the US in 2004 and Japan in 2006 to enact North Korean human rights laws. Furthermore, the North Korean Human Rights Act, which was passed by the Democratic Party of Korea during the Moon Jae-in government, has been criticized for hindering efforts to improve human rights in North Korea. The act is not only unconstitutional but also prevents the delivery of the North Korean human rights report to North Korea.
▶Raising awareness of North Korean human rights violations matters
Exposing the tragedy happening inside North Korea is essential to shed light on the human rights violations taking place. Although it may be gruesome and provocative, the issue cannot be ignored. The totalitarian regime of the Kim dynasty denies the exploitation of its people for the development of nuclear and missile technology. Moreover, the international community must reveal the truth to press China and Russia, which protect the North Korean government under the guise of socialist solidarity.
President Yoon Suk-yeol has been expressing his strong commitment to the issue of North Korean human rights. In the State Council meeting on March 28, two days before the release of the report, he emphasized the need for the practical enforcement of the North Korean Human Rights Act, and stated that investigating and disclosing the reality of North Korea through various channels is crucial for national security. The public release of the North Korean human rights report carries significant meaning in this context. However, the government should not solely praise itself as 'meaningful.' Instead, it should acknowledge that the North Korean human rights policy has been on the wrong path for several years and has only recently started to return to its rightful place.
▶ South Korea's Action is Key to Achieving "International Cooperation“
It is disappointing to see the efforts of the Ministry of Unification falling short. The Center for North Korean Human Rights Records, which produced the report, is especially guilty of this. The human rights investigation database, which cost over 3.3 billion won, contains responses from 3,412 defectors, but only 508 were used in the report. Even these responses were presented in a list-like format without any comparative analysis or attention to the criticisms that the government is focused on. The report takes the form of a mere "collection of testimonies," making it difficult to understand what issues the Center has been tracking over the past few years in the name of North Korean human rights.
First steps have been taken with the publication of the North Korean human rights report by the South Korean government, but many tasks remain. The Ministry of Unification should provide a specific roadmap for how the English version of the report can be utilized on the international stage. Analysis work utilizing the database, which has accumulated considerable evidence, must also continue. Without the South Korean government taking the lead on North Korean human rights issues, no country will be able to move forward. The past 5 years, during which the Moon Jae-in government has ignored North Korean human rights, have shown that when South Korea actively raises its voice on the reality of North Korea's human rights violations, the international community can follow suit.