1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with Michael Kirby, former Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), on May 30. On the occasion, the Foreign Minister explained the position of the government of the Republic of Korea on North Korea’s human rights issues and exchanged views with the former Chairman on ways to implement follow-up measures on the COI recommendations on ways to resolve them.

2. Minister Yun commended the COI’s report on North Korea’s human rights issues as a historic milestone in the international efforts to resolve the issues. In response, former Chairman Kirby extended appreciation to the ROK government for its strong support for the COI activities.

3. Former Chairman Kirby voiced hope that the ROK government will continue providing humanitarian assistance to North Korea and making proactive efforts to improve North Korea’s human rights situation. Minister Yun pointed out that the goal of the ROK government’s policy toward North Korea is, as President Park Geun-hye mentioned in her Dresden address, to help the people of North Korea live humanly.

4. With regard to the request of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that the field-based structure on North Korean human rights be set up in the ROK, the former COI Chairman conveyed his appreciation to the ROK government for its acceptance as well as his hope for the ROK government’s cooperation for the smooth operation of the structure.

5. Minister Yun commended the continued efforts of Former Chairman Kirby to raise the international awareness on North Korea’s human rights issues even after the completion of the COI’s mission. In addition, he voiced his hope that the former Chairman will continue active work to improve North Korea’s human rights situation. 


                            Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation