S. Korea holds first policy meeting over N.K. human rights

SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Tuesday held its first policy meeting on North Korea's human rights to discuss measures to improve Pyongyang's dismal rights records, government officials said.

Vice Unification Minister Kim Hyung-suk hosted the consultations, attended by senior officials from Seoul's foreign and justice ministries and other agencies, according to the Ministry of Unification.

The move came as a new law aimed at improving North Korea's abject rights situation went into effect last month in a bid to zero in on the North Korean regime's crimes against humanity.

"We cannot ignore North Korea's human rights abuses and aggressive efforts are needed to improve the situation," Kim said at the start of the meeting.

"It is important to set an effective policy on North Korea's human rights and compile cases of violations through cooperation and information sharing among government agencies," he said.

Under the law, Seoul set up a center to investigate and compile human rights abuses in late September. It is also seeking to establish a foundation to support relevant civic groups.

North Korea has long been labeled one of the worst human rights violators in the world. Pyongyang has bristled at such criticism, calling it a U.S.-led attempt to topple its regime.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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