Ban's trip to Pyongyang is being discussed, UN says
By Jun Ji-hye
Whether U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will mention North Korea's deplorable human rights record is drawing keen attention in advance of him possibly meeting with leader Kim Jong-un.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the U.N. chief, said at a regular press briefing Wednesday that discussions to set up his visit to the repressive state are under way.
"The secretary-general has always expressed his willingness to play a constructive role on the situation of the Korean Peninsula, including traveling there, and discussions are ongoing," the spokesman said.
If what would be Ban's first visit to the isolated state is settled, he is highly likely to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. During the meeting, Ban is expected to mention a variety of pending issues including the North's nuclear ambitions and human rights violations.
The North's human rights record has been described as abysmal and led to a recommendation that Pyongyang's leaders be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for crimes against humanity.
The U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote Thursday on a resolution sponsored by the European Union and Japan that would condemn the North's rights violations and again encourage the U.N. Security Council to refer the isolated state to the war crimes tribunal.
Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the ruling Saenuri Party, a North Korean human rights activist-turned-lawmaker, said that Ban should make progress in the North's human rights issue during his envisioned visit.
"Maintaining peace is primarily related to nuclear and human rights issues," Rep. Ha said during his TBS radio appearance. "I doubt that Kim Jong-un will talk about the two issues to the U.N. chief, but Ban should make some progress especially on the human rights issue."
He said that the U.N. is currently focusing more on human rights than on the nuclear threats.
"If Ban makes a visible achievement on the human rights issue, his visit to the North will be rated high," he said. "If he receives a mediocre assessment only, it would make his visit less meaningful, and rather give prominence to Kim's leadership."
For his part, the North's Ambassador-at-large to the U.N. Ri Hung-sik claimed Tuesday that allegations that North Korea commits human rights abuses are based on "all sorts of false and distorted data" from defectors and criminal fugitives, and the result of a "U.S. hostile policy" intended to bring down the government using "strong arm military pressure" and false attacks on its human rights record.
Despite sanctions, Ri said that the government is trying to improve standards of living for the people, pointing to free housing, health and education in the country and special help for children and the elderly.
Observers say that if the North strongly protested against the possible passage of the resolution, Ban's visit could eventually be scuttled.
On May 20, the North abruptly withdrew an earlier decision to permit Ban to visit the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, only a day before he had planned to go.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
By Jun Ji-hye
 |
| Ban Ki-moon |
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the U.N. chief, said at a regular press briefing Wednesday that discussions to set up his visit to the repressive state are under way.
"The secretary-general has always expressed his willingness to play a constructive role on the situation of the Korean Peninsula, including traveling there, and discussions are ongoing," the spokesman said.
If what would be Ban's first visit to the isolated state is settled, he is highly likely to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. During the meeting, Ban is expected to mention a variety of pending issues including the North's nuclear ambitions and human rights violations.
The North's human rights record has been described as abysmal and led to a recommendation that Pyongyang's leaders be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for crimes against humanity.
The U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote Thursday on a resolution sponsored by the European Union and Japan that would condemn the North's rights violations and again encourage the U.N. Security Council to refer the isolated state to the war crimes tribunal.
Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the ruling Saenuri Party, a North Korean human rights activist-turned-lawmaker, said that Ban should make progress in the North's human rights issue during his envisioned visit.
"Maintaining peace is primarily related to nuclear and human rights issues," Rep. Ha said during his TBS radio appearance. "I doubt that Kim Jong-un will talk about the two issues to the U.N. chief, but Ban should make some progress especially on the human rights issue."
He said that the U.N. is currently focusing more on human rights than on the nuclear threats.
"If Ban makes a visible achievement on the human rights issue, his visit to the North will be rated high," he said. "If he receives a mediocre assessment only, it would make his visit less meaningful, and rather give prominence to Kim's leadership."
For his part, the North's Ambassador-at-large to the U.N. Ri Hung-sik claimed Tuesday that allegations that North Korea commits human rights abuses are based on "all sorts of false and distorted data" from defectors and criminal fugitives, and the result of a "U.S. hostile policy" intended to bring down the government using "strong arm military pressure" and false attacks on its human rights record.
Despite sanctions, Ri said that the government is trying to improve standards of living for the people, pointing to free housing, health and education in the country and special help for children and the elderly.
Observers say that if the North strongly protested against the possible passage of the resolution, Ban's visit could eventually be scuttled.
On May 20, the North abruptly withdrew an earlier decision to permit Ban to visit the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, only a day before he had planned to go.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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