The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) hosted the North Korean Human Rights Forum on January 13-14, 2012 with the aim to find countermeasures regarding changes in the human rights situation in North Koreafollowing the recent power shift from the late Kim Jong Il to the current leader, Kim Jong Un.
Approximately thirty experts from various organizations such as the North Korea Human Rights Forum and the North Korean Human Rights Special Commission participated in this forum. A heated debate on devising strategies for improving the human rights situation in North Koreawas moderated by Professor Young Namgung (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies).
The first session featured a background paper presentation by Professor Geunsik Kim (Kyungnam University) under the theme of “Analysis and Counterplans of North Korean Human Rights under the Kim Jong Un Regime” followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Seongjang Jeong (Sejong Institute) and Dr. Kwangju Son (Gyunggi Research Institute). The gist of the arguments presented in the first session was that there still remains the possibility of situation of North Koreato become unstable despite temporary social stability gained from China’s support, well-prepared leadership succession and the “Su Ryung Je” (the unique monolithic leadership system of North Korea). It was also forecasted that Pyong Yang, in principle, would continue to take a hard line on the Inter-Korean relationship. Therefore, recommendations to sway the new leader’s policy away from its firm stance toward a more peace-making framework were presented.
In the second session, Dr. Suam Kim (Reunification Institute) outlined his paper on “The Kim Jong Un Regime and the Prospect of North Korean Human Rights Improvement Campaign,” followed by a panel discussion with Mr. Seunghyun Yoon (Chief of the Kwangjuand JeonnamHelpCenterfor North Korean Migrants) and Mr. Seongmin Kim (Chief of the Free North Korea Radio). The following is the main argument featured in the second session: despite provisional stability gained from the former leader’s rule, human rights situation in North Koreawill not make great progress under increased surveillance aimed at eliminating possible factors disturbing the stability of the society and continuous recession which drives people out of the country.
Therefore, it was recommended to expand our discourse by taking into consideration the promotion of North Korean Human Rights issueswhich have been widely discussed at international forums. In particular, a need for a close cooperation with the Special Rapporteur was emphasized in order to draw ample attention to this topic in the UN.
