“The U.S-International Society Should Interfere to Improve Human Rights of the North”

U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urged the U.S. state ministry on 6th, “to make special efforts in order to consider perception of international society with regard to suffering of the North people through international events like World cup” and suggested the U.S administration and Congress to cope with human rights matter of the North in cooperation with international society.

The Committee pointed out in its annual report which it presented on 6th, “the North people under the situation in which they do not have any freedom as compared to other countries in the world the most, are surviving painfully in the despotic regime that denies the dignity of man” and advised, “the U.S. administration should mobilize every possible measures to collect and reveal information which enables in verifying situation of the North”.

The Committee urged for the U.S. president George W. Bush to point out human rights matter when he mentions about the North and utilize every opportunity to present matter of the North human rights like address in the U.N. General Assembly.

The committee requested U.N. to appoint special investigative team for the sake of investigating situation of the human rights in the North and advised the U.S. administration when Korea and Japan government have talks with the North, to exert pressure regarding improvement of religious freedom and human rights.

The committee requested the U.S. administration to urge that China, Russia, and international society should grant refugee status to the North defectors, on the other hand, it pointed out,“in case nations concerned with the Korean War conclude peace agreement, they should include article regarding prohibition of discrimination of religionist and religious freedom of the North”.

To Congress, the committee advised to conduct △ host hearing related to the North △ discussing policy regarding improvement of the North human rights △ inaugurating committee that can take action such as regulating bill to pressurize the North in order to improve situation of human rights.

USCIRF is independent organization of the U.S. government that was established following law of the International religious freedom, which was legislated in 1998, and it publishes annual report every year since 2000.

If the U.S. state minister accepts this advice of the committee that it should mention about the North human rights matter in the North-U.S dialogue, it is expected that human rights of the North would be dealt as one of the main subject in the North-U.S. dialogue.

Ki-Heung Han eligius@donga.com