Statement on the Establishment of a Law on North Korean Human Rights

In December 2005, the Committee of Reconciliation and Unification of the National Council of Churches in Korea considered that proposing a law on North Korean human rights has been subordinated to political interests. The Committee of Reconciliation and Unification of the NCCK declared that the humanitarian community should take the lead to improve relations (between South and North Korea) through exchange and cooperation in order to develop actual human rights. As the issue has been heating up recently again, the NCCK held a forum entitled 'Establishment of a North Korean Human Rights Law, What are the Problems?' on March 7th (Friday), 2014.

At the forum, Prof. Hwang Je Ok (Wonkwang Uni.) presented 'Background and Issues of Establishing a North Korean Human Rights Law', Dr. Yoon So Jung (Ewha Womans Univ.) presented 'North Korean Human Rights Law from the perspective of Jesus Christ' and Kim Sung Gon (Lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea Government) presented 'Raising a few issues for discussion on      a public law on North Korean human rights and living conditions’. Following the presentations there was a discussion session for participants which brought up additional problems and suggested alternatives about these issues.

The Committee of Reconciliation and Unification has been concerned that the North Korean Human Rights Law, which is focused on securing civil liberties for North Koreans, and the Law of Humanitarian Aid, which is focused on securing the right to survival, are actually unhelpful for improving human rights for North Korea, and that issues of human rights have been so politicized that they hinder improvement of the relationship between South and North Korea. Pointing out human rights abuses without confidence building measures only makes the situation get worse, and relationship improvement should take priority over a legalized approach for practical human rights improvement.

Moreover it is very unenlightened to create the conditions which could lead to an outbreak of war by establishing a North Korean Human Rights Law in a reaction to the stories presently on everyone's lips following the report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on North Korea, a report which prescribed Kim Jung Eun as a person who should receive a criminal penalty and who should be put under court custody.

The Committee of Reconciliation and Unification wants the South Korean government to sincerely carry out the Law of Development of Inter-Korean Relations Article 9 which is "the government makes efforts to resolve humanitarian issues and improve human rights due to the division of Korean peninsula“ before the government enacts a new law.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:1-5, NIV version)

The Department of Reconciliation and Unification considers that bills submitted by both the ruling and the opposition parties during the last session of the National Assembly are very one sided but blending the two perspectives into one would also be problematic. Jesus Christ taught patience and understanding, and we pray for peace on the Korean Peninsula and restoration of trust between South and North Korea in the statements below.

1. The government and national assembly should discontinue the establishment of a North Korean Human Rights Law, as it contains the possibility of causing a war in Korea and aggravating conflicts between South and North Korea. Specifically the government should avoid establishing the law on the basis of Article 3 of the Constitution which is an article relating to territory rather than to mutual recognition and respect.  

2. Both South and North Korea government should put aside war preparation and mutual slander and hold dialogue aiming at the restoration of trust between South and North Korea. Such conversations should contain practical discussion on efforts for humanitarian assistance and for actual human rights improvement. 

3. The World Council of Churches 10th Assembly has determined that the current situation of North Korea has resulted from the sanctions against North Korea during the last 65 years. The United Nations and United States of America should discontinue all speech and behavior which are serious impediments to peace on the Korean Peninsula and they should remove all economic sanctions and fully support humanitarian assistance for prior actual human rights improvements.

4. Human rights have universal validity which God gave to humankind. Because of this, they cannot be used for political purposes and gain only for some particular privileged groups. There is no country free from the issue of human rights abuses, and it becomes another form of violence if we only make an issue with the human rights of North Korea.  

In the actualization of these steps, the Korean church asks for the strong solidarity of the world churches through prayer. 

March 11, 2014

General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Kim Young-Ju

The Chairperson of Reconciliation and Unification, Rev. Cho Hun Jung

The National Council of Churches in Korea