US Envoy Urges North Korea To Start Reform To Increase Human Rights

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WASHINGTON - US special envoy for Human Rights (HAM) in North Korea Julie Turner asked Pyongyang to launch a reform process to improve the condition of human rights enforcement in the country.

Turner made the remarks commemorating the 10th anniversary of the issuance of an important UN Investigative Commission (COI) report accusing North Korean officials of systematic, widespread and severe human rights violations and making related recommendations.

"We call on the DPRK (Korean People's Democratic Republic) to start the reform process to implement recommendations for the 2014 UN COI report and respect human rights," Turner said via video message released by the Human Rights Committee in North Korea as reported by Yonhap.

The COI report contains recommendations for Pyongyang to carry out in-depth and institutional reforms without delay in implementing an equal system and mutual control (checks and balances) over the rule of the country's leaders and the ruling Workers' Party, including the implementation of independent and impartial courts as well as multiparty political systems.

"Today, 10 years later, I urge the international community to reflect on these recommendations and consider what else can be done to make them happen," he said.

Turner also stressed that Washington is strengthening COI recommendations to China and other countries to respect the principle of non-refoulement and not forcibly repatriating anyone to North Korea, unless treatment in the country has been verified by international monitors and has actually improved.

Given that Pyongyang will conduct a periodic universal review by the end of this year, Turner hopes the review will be an opportunity to increase respect for human rights.

The review in question is a mechanism that asks every UN member state to peer review human rights which lasts every 4.5 years.

Not only that, but the Ambassador reaffirmed the United States' commitment to increasing human rights for North Koreans, which has become a top priority for the United States government.

He also expressed his appreciation to various parties working for North Korea's human rights.

Thank you for continuing to speak on behalf of millions of North Koreans who were not given the right to speak on their own behalf. To the people of North Korea, we see you and we will continue to advocate for improvements to conditions and so that your rights are respected," he said.