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| Rep. Tae Young-ho inquired with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha during a comprehensive review of affiliated agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korea International Cooperation Agency, Korea International Foundation and Overseas Korean Foundation on the 26th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. (Photo from NewsBeezer) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] NEW YORK: North Korean defector-turned-lawmaker said Monday that South Korea should step up efforts to improve the human rights situation in North Korea, along with its proposal to declare the formal end to the Korean War.
Rep. Tae Young-ho of the main opposition People Power Party made the remark during an interview with Yonhap News Agency while in New York for a parliamentary audit of the South Korean Embassy to the United Nations. "We shouldn't lean toward the left or the right for the North Korean human rights issues depending on the government," Tae said. "It is important that we always take a universal, consistent stance on the North Korean human rights issues." North Korea has been accused of gross human rights violations, like torture, public executions and maintaining tens of thousands of political prisoners. Pyongyang has bristled with the criticism, calling it a U.S.-led attempt to topple its regime. Critics have said the human rights issue has been sidelined over the past few years under the liberal Moon administration on concerns that it could anger Pyongyang and hamper efforts to resume denuclearization talks.
Tae also urged South Korea to co-sponsor a U.N. Human Rights Council resolution on North Korea's rights violations, which the Seoul government has dropped out of since 2019 to avoid tensions with Pyongyang amid its efforts to resume inter-Korean dialogue.
