Improve human rights in N.Korea

By Ted Gover

Amid the myriad of issues for Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un to consider for their possible summit this May ― nuclear disarmament, missile programs, the U.S. military footprint in South Korea, sanctions relief, economic aid, etc. ― human rights considerations must not fall by the wayside.

It is not uncommon at high-stakes summits for leaders to try to outsmart one another. Others make genuine efforts to strike a genuine deal that holds. The strategies of Trump and Kim towards their summit notwithstanding, the plight of North Korean political prisoners and others needs to be one of the causes Trump supports during the negotiations.

Human rights? Some may argue human rights amounts to small potatoes amid the very real, serious issues involving the North Korean nuclear threat.

However, this summit provides an opportunity to address some of the world's most egregious human rights abuses that Pyongyang commits on a daily basis.

North Korea is known for its extensive system of gulags where political prisoners are raped, tortured, starved and subjected to forced labor and executions. Tragically, political prisoners are often murdered by poison gas while being used as guinea pigs for the regime's chemical and biological weapons program testing, a sadistic crime the civilized world expected to end with the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

The cruelty extends beyond the political prisoners themselves with the regime often targeting the prisoners' extended family members as well, subjecting them to imprisonment and torture.

Amid this gloomy picture, we can learn from recent history as to how human rights advocacy can be a part of these highly anticipated summits.

As secretary of state for President Ronald Reagan, Bill Shultz was involved in many arms control negotiations with the Soviets, a regime far more threatening to U.S. interests than North Korea has ever been. During these talks, it was not uncommon for Secretary Schultz to demand certain targeted human rights concessions from Moscow as part of the overall negotiations over arms control and other related discussions.

And sometimes Secretary Schultz's demands yielded human rights concessions by the Soviets, saving lives.

Trump ought to do the same with Kim.

He may start by advocating for the release of a specific number of political prisoners. He should also demand the release of all surviving Japanese citizens and other foreign nationals Pyongyang has abducted over the years.

Beyond this, Trump should call for the halt of the regime's current expansion of its gulag system.

The upcoming Trump-Kim summit brings with it hope for a peaceful resolution to the North Korean nuclear crisis. A diplomatic breakthrough that secures peace is to be encouraged and supported. In the process, Trump and his partners must not abandon their obligations to improve human rights in North Korea.

Ted Gover (tedgover@gmail.com), Ph.D., is instructor of political science at Central Texas College, USMC Camp Pendleton.