1. UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ojea Quintana, will visit the Republic of Korea from January 7 till 11.

※ The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was established pursuant to Resolution 2004/13 of the UN Commission on Human Rights in 2004. The Special Rapporteur investigates and studies the human rights situation in the DPRK, and submits reports to the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council.

- Special Rapporteur Ojea Quintana is the third Special Rapporteur after Special Rapporteurs Muntarbhon and Darusman.

2. During his visit to the ROK, Special Rapporteur Quintana will meet with government officials, including those from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Unification, as well as North Korean defectors and members of civil society.

o The Special Rapporteur will pay a courtesy call on Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho on January 7.

o The Special Rapporteur will hold a press conference on the outcome of his visit at the Press Center in Seoul at 3:00 p.m., January 11.

3. The purpose of Special Rapporteur Quintana’s visit to the ROK, his fifth after he took up the post in August 2016, is to gather information necessary for writing a report that will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in March this year. 

* unofficial translation