[Editorial] What Good Can Be Done by Stopping Passage of North Korean Human Rights Act?

Some junior lawmakers in the ruling Uri Party are reportedly pursuing an adoption of a resolution at the National Assembly to stop the passage of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 in the U.S. Senate. The act has already been passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The lawmakers argue that the act threatens to curb the international community’s efforts to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula by overly intervening in domestic affairs of North Korea. The argument is utterly outrageous. How can such words come from the ruling party, not even a pro-North Korea organization?

The North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 has been designed by the intellectuals and politicians of the U.S. in cooperation with the international relief organizations to protect the human rights of the North Korean people and defectors. Their goodwill should be praised but, most of all, the act testifies their strong commitment to take action. For instance, the act provides legal ground to grant refugee status to North Korean defectors and ensures that the U.S. government will spend $24 million every year to improve human rights of North Koreans. They are doing what we have not been able to do.

Despite such facts, the opposing lawmakers are absurdly urging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) to reflect on itself for not properly dealing with the passage of the act. Are they saying that the MOFAT should have lobbied the House to stop the act? The lawmakers, who always call for national independence, are trying to stop an act that can help pain-stricken North Koreans. What kind of argument could that be?

A proper ruling party would worry about the well-being of 100,000 to 200,000 North Korean defectors who wander around in China or the similar number of North Koreans locked in prison camps in pain.

It is foolish to think that the act can provoke North Korea and negatively influence the six-party talks or inter-Korean dialogue in solving nuclear problem. The fundamental goal of resolving North Korea’s nuclear issue is to help North Koreans live in dignity. No policy towards the North can be separated from the human rights issue, a universal value. The ruling party must remember why the sunshine policy is criticized for having a critical flaw-- it does not handle any human rights problems. The Uri Party must immediately take actions to stop the resolution from being adopted.