U.S. Praised for Adding Human Rights to N. Korea Agenda

By Ethan Cole, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, August 07, 2008

The U.S. government body in charge of monitoring religious freedom in the world applauded the State Department for its recent announcement that human rights will be part of "normalization" discussions between Pyongyang and Washington.

"North Korea's unrelenting violations of human rights, including the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, remain a serious regional security threat," said U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom chair Felice D. Gaer in a statement Wednesday. "Future negotiations should link progress on other policy concerns with specific and concrete human rights improvements."

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill recently stated that human rights will be part of the U.S. agenda for six-party talks with North Korea regarding its denuclearization process.

If the United States follows through on its promise, USCIRF said, it would be carrying out the longstanding recommendation by the Commission for U.S. policy concerning relations with one of the world's most severe violators of religious freedom and other human rights.

Gaer noted that during the Commission's visit to South Korea in late June it saw "real opportunity" to work with democratic allies in the region on the issue of human rights and humanitarian problems in North Korea.

"Correcting serious problems including refugees, human trafficking, abductions, famine, and a large system of concentration camps for those convicted of so-called political crimes requires new efforts by regional allies," Gaer said. "U.S. leadership is essential to ensure progress on these issues in future negotiations with North Korea."

Bush, who visited South Korea this week as part of his Asia tour ahead of the Beijing Olympics, said he remains concern about North Korea's human rights record and its nuclear program, according to The Associated Press.

While in Seoul, he also said North Korea has much to change before the United States can remove it from the terror blacklist. Bush added that both he and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak are unsure whether North Korea will seriously end its nuclear program

USCIRF has recommended to the State Department to seek cooperative efforts in negotiations with the North Korean government including: -dismantling political penal labor colonies, releasing all those detained in these and other prison facilities for alleged "political crimes," including those detained for religious activities or beliefs -ending torture and other forms of punishment of repatriated refugees and other individuals for their religious beliefs, affiliations, or contacts

"It is vital to keep up a strong U.S. government focus on North Korea and to work harder to end the grave, ongoing religious freedom and human rights abuses there," Gaer said.