12/21/2019 North Korea (International Christian Concern) – A coalition of human rights and other organizations have joined force to urge South Korea to stop ignoring human rights abuses being committed in the North as part of efforts to improve relations.
According to the International Coalition to Stop Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK), recent moves by Seoul have undermined previous efforts to try and improve the human rights situation in the north.
Earlier this week, the coalition penned a joint letter for South Korean president Moon Jae-in. The letter was co-signed by 76 non-governmental groups, alliances, and individuals representing more than 300 groups from at least 22 countries.
“President Moon Jae-in and his government are ignoring North Korea’s grave human rights abuses in a misguided effort to mollify Kim Jong-un and improve relations with Pyongyang, but by doing so, they betray the long-suffering people of North Korea,” Phil Robertson, Asia deputy director at Human Rights Watch said.
“President Moon should reevaluate this disturbing policy and reverse course before it’s too late,” he added.
The letter’s signatories pointed to a decision by South Korea in November to stop co-sponsoring an annual United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning the human rights situation in North Korea.
Benedict Rogers, East Asia team leader at UK-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide said peace on the Korean Peninsula should not come at the expense of people’s human rights.
“If President Moon Jae-in really wants peace on the Korean peninsula, he cannot ignore the appalling human rights crisis in North Korea,” he said.
International Christian Concern also co-signed this letter to show solidarity to our suffering Christian brothers and sisters inside North Korea, a country often ranked as the most difficult place for Christians in reside in.
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