1. The government of the Republic of Korea attended the high-level plenary meeting on the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) convened by the President of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on May 20 in New York.

2. The meeting was organized in accordance with the 79th UN General Assembly resolution on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, which was adopted by consensus last December. It was the first high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on the human rights situation in the DPRK and served as an opportunity for in-depth discussions on the matter.

3. The meeting offered a meaningful occasion to intensively address the DPRK's human rights issues at the UN General Assembly, the representative organ of the UN comprising all UN member states, following similar discussions at the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council. It also provided an opportunity to encourage wide participation and enhance awareness on this issue in the international community.

4. Ambassador Hwang Joonkook, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN who represented the government at the meeting, stressed the historic importance of the event which addresses the DPRK's human rights issues at the high-level for the first time in the 20-year history of the annual UN General Assembly resolution on the human rights situation in the DPRK. Ambassador Hwang also pointed out the deteriorating human rights situation in the DPRK as evidenced in the case of the DPRK’s forced labor, which may constitute a crime against humanity of enslavement, heightened surveillance and border control, as well as restrictions on freedom of expression. Furthermore, Ambassador Hwang strongly urged the DPRK to immediately resolve the issues of abductees, detainees, and prisoners of war. In particular, Ambassador Hwang urged the prompt release of three Korean missionaries -- Kim Jung Wook, Kim Kook Kie and Choi Chun Gil -- and, at the same time, expressed deep concern about the inhumane treatment of North Korean escapees who have been forcibly repatriated, and urged all UN member states to respect the principle of non-refoulement.

5. Ambassador Hwang emphasized that the human rights situation in the DPRK and nuclear weapons development are deeply interconnected. Ambassador Hwang also highlighted that weapons built through the suffering of the North Korean people are prolonging the war in Ukraine and its nuclear and missile programs continue to undermine the global non-proliferation regime and threaten international peace and security.

6. A large number of participating countries expressed their concern over military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, highlighted the worsening human rights situation in the DPRK and called for efforts to improve this situation.

7. The meeting was presided over by Ambassador Philemon Yang, President of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, and participants, including Ms. Ilze Brands Kehris, UN Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, and Ms. Elizabeth Salmón, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, called for the international community’s attention to the grave human rights situation in the DPRK. Moreover, Ms. Kim Eunju and Ms. Kang Gyuri, North Korean escapees, shared their vivid testimonies on the reality of human rights violations in the DPRK. Civil society representatives including Mr. Greg Scarlatoiu, President and CEO of the “Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK),” and Mr. Sean Chung, CEO of “HanVoice,” on behalf of a global coalition of civil society organizations, took part in the meeting and expressed concerns for the aggravating human rights situation in the DPRK.

8. On this occasion, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the UN, jointly with the global coalition of civil society organizations for North Korean human rights, held a reception for UN member states and civil society organizations with an aim to raise awareness on the DPRK's human rights issues, introduce the efforts of civil society organizations to improve the human rights situation in the DPRK and provide an opportunity for sharing views.

9. The government of the Republic of Korea will continue its multi-faceted endeavors to foster meaningful discussions regarding the dire human rights situation in the DPRK at various arenas, including the UN.