Seoul: Unification Minister Chung Dong-young met with U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk to deliberate on human rights matters and South Korea’s strategies to enhance relations with North Korea, as reported by the ministry on Wednesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the private meeting highlighted the issue of families separated during the 1950-53 Korean War as a critical humanitarian concern. Chung emphasized North Korea’s interest in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities and women, reaffirming South Korea’s dedication to collaboration with Pyongyang in these areas.
Turk shared the United Nations’ continuous efforts to observe human rights conditions in North Korea and expressed the agency’s willingness to engage with North Korea in areas of mutual receptiveness. Earlier, Turk also met with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, where he described South Korea as a key strategic ally and expressed intentions to bolster bilateral cooperation.
During discussions with Kim, Turk voiced his concerns about North Korea’s human rights issues, such as the abduction of individuals by the North, pledging that his office will undertake necessary roles. Turk’s visit to South Korea, which began on Tuesday, marks the first official visit by a U.N. human rights chief to the country in 11 years.