Page 56 - NKHR Hawaii Conference 2023

Congratulatory Remarks
Kim Yung Ho

Unif cation Minister

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
I extend my warmest congratulations to ’North Korean Human Rights Hawaii
Conference 2023’. I would like thank Myong Hae Kim (Annie Chan), Chairperson of
the Global Strategy Committee of the Peaceful Unif cation Advisory Council, President
of the East-West Center Suzanne Vares-Lum and all participants who are with us today
with your keen interest on North Korean human rights issues.

Human rights is an universal value of humanity that people in the North Korea are no
exception to. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration since its beginning has been leading
ef orts to promote human rights in North Korea believing that it is our responsibility to
do so. We have published the government’s f rst Report on North Korean Human Rights,
returned as a co-sponsor to the UN’s North Korea Human Rights Resolution and we are
making pragmatic contributions to advance North Korea’s human rights.

North Korea’s human rights issue is a high priority task for the strengthened ROK-US
alliance. T e trilateral summit at the Camp David paved the way for ROK-US-Japan to
advance cooperation for North Korea’s human rights, and last November, the ROK and
the US restarted the North Korea Human Rights Consultation Group for the f rst time
in 6 years, strengthening our solidarity to promote human rights in North Korea.

T is December, we will let the world know about North Korea’s human rights situation
by announcing the ROK government’s comprehensive roadmap to promote North
Korea’s human rights situation and by publishing a report on North Korea’s economy and
society. If we can bring together the international community’s interest and as a unif ed
voice request North Korea to promote its human rights situation, at the end of the day,
North Korea will change. T e ROK government will always open the door for dialogue