North Korean Human Rights Abuses and Their Consequences

Headnote

Structured Abstract

Article Type: Research Note

Purpose-First, this paper considers human rights resolution about North Korea by the United Nations, North Korean Human Rights of 2004 by the United States, and North Korean Human Rights Act of 2016 by South Korea. And then the paper analyzes consequences of these resolutions and legislation.

Design/methodology/approach-The approach is qualitative and expository; it consults area studies, social science, and journalism; it observes recent past and current North Korean human right violations and their responses, and it makes informed policy suggestions.

Findings-This research note found that there is a discrepancy between the intended purposes of resolutions and legislations by the UN & Western countries and their actual policies toward North Korean human rights. As North Korea has continued to test fire nuclear weapons and missiles, the UN has gradually reduced its humanitarian aid to North Korean people. In the meantime, North Korean human rights violations have increased rather than decreased.

Originality/value-The value of the paper lies in its explanation of why the use of human right abuses by the UN, the U.S., and U.S. allies to improve North Korean human rights have backfired. In other words, these resolutions and legislations have been ineffective in protecting and enhancing North Korean human rights.

Keywords: human rights, humanitarian aid, North Korea, South Korea, United Nations, United States

Introduction

Human rights could be defined legally as individual freedom from unlawful imprisonment, torture, and execution.1 Human rights include political and civil rights. These rights include life, equality, and freedom of speech. Individuals are also entitled to basic human rights such as economic, cultural, and social rights that may include education, work, and social security. Moreover, individuals should be free to exercise collective rights such as personal growth and self-determination. All of these rights are indivisible and interrelated as the protection of one right promotes the progression of other rights. Similarly, depriving individuals of any of these rights may also adversely affect their access to other rights.2 Vienna 1993 World Conference on Human Rights reminded the states of their responsibility to advance and protect human rights and essential freedoms for all citizens irrespective of their economic, social, political, and cultural systems.

Dictators in some countries systematically violate basic human rights including freedom of speech, religion,...