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the development of solutions to the crisis. Our understanding
primarily hinges on escapee testimonies and sparse internal
sources, leading to various accounts and disputes about the
situation within North Korea, including the mortality rate
during the late 1990s’ Arduous March and the present severity
of food shortages.

Second, the emphasis on North Korea’s denuclearization often
overshadows human rights issues during negotiations with
the regime. In the early days of the Trump presidency, North
Korean human rights were momentarily used as political
leverage, but as preparations for the U.S.-North Korea
summit and denuclearization discussions took precedence,
human rights issues were sidelined.

Third, the prolonged stagnation of issues related to North
Korea, including nuclear and human rights concerns, has
caused international fatigue, hindering efforts to raise
awareness. Furthermore, the global focus on humanitarian
crisis in regions like Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza has
overshadowed North Korea’s human rights record, rendering
it a “forgotten crisis.” The global media’s penchant for
covering missile issues, nuclear threats, and the Kim family’s
personal life further marginalizes the human rights topic.
Consequently, the discourse around North Korean human
rights has been “ghettoized,” remaining the concern of only a
select few domestic and international NGOs, researchers, and
policymakers.

Fourth, although human rights are universal values, their
relevance to North Korea has become highly politicized,

Chapter Six : Unveiling the North Korean Human Rights Quandary 97