1. The representative of the government of the Republic of Korea spoke on the human rights situation in 
North Korea, including the asylum seekers from North Korea, political prisons in North Korea, and those 
who have been detained in North Korea against their will, such as abductees and prisoners of the Korean 
War, in an interactive dialogue with Mr. Marzuki Darusman, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of 
Human Rights in North Korea, at the Third Committee of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, 
held on Oct. 19, 2011.

2. With regard to the situation of the asylum seekers from North Korea, the ROK representative urged all 
countries concerned to faithfully respect the letters and spirit of the principle of non-refoulement since they 
could face forceful repatriation to the country where they could be subject to harsh punishment.  

3. The ROK representative expressed its deep concern over the political prisons in North Korea, and also 
urged North Korea to clarify the fates of those who have been detained in the DPRK against their will, 
including abductees and prisoners of the Korean War, and repatriate them immediately.

4. The ROK representative welcomed the UN Special Rapporteur’s intention to work on the issue of legal 
accountability for human rights violations in North Korea, and stressed that an independent assessment of 
the human rights situation in North Korea is requisite to this end.

5. The interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapportuer took place on the basis of, as before, the report 
on the human rights situation in North Korea submitted by the Special Rapporteur to the current session of 
the UN General Assembly. 


                 Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation