President Park Geun-hye met with U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein and the chief of the U.N. office for North Korean human rights, Signe Poulsen, on June 25 at Cheong Wa Dae.

They discussed the human rights situation in North Korea and the issue of the so-called "comfort women," victims who were abducted and forced to serve as sexual slaves by the Japanese army during World War II.

President Park said, “I highly value your visit to Korea during a time when there is growing interest in North Korean human rights in both Korea and the world. I expect that the U.N. office on North Korean human rights, which opened on June 23, will play a central role in substantially improving the human rights of the North Korean people.”

The president added that, “The international community has shown stronger interest in North Korean human rights issues than ever before, as can be seen through the U.N. Human Rights Commission’s resolution to form the North Korean Human Rights Council and through the U.N. General Assembly releasing the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report in February last year. Backed by such acts, we need to work together to substantially advance human rights conditions in North Korea.”


President Park expressed her deep concern about the issue of the two South Koreans who were sentenced to life in prison by North Korea and other issues, such as North Korean defectors, separated families, families of people who were kidnapped to the North and the issue of South Korean hostages captured during the Korean War. She urged the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to take an interest in these human rights issues.

Commissioner Zeid expressed his gratitude to the South Korean government for allowing the establishment of a U.N. office on North Korean human rights and for actively supporting the OHCHR’s activities. The U.N. human rights representative told the president that he will continue to make efforts to improve human rights conditions in North Korea.

Commissioner Zeid told President Park that he had a chance to meet the "comfort women" victims, mentioning his recent visit to the newly opened Museum of War and Women's Human Rights. He said that he will take an interest in and support solving this issue.

President Park said, “The issue of the 'comfort women' victims is important for not only the future development of the Korea-Japan relationship but also for the protection of women's human rights during war. It is important to restore their honor and dignity when they are still alive as they had to go through such pain during their lives.”

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photo: Cheong Wa Dae
arete@korea.kr