Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Briefing to the United Nations Security Council on “the Situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”
2023/8/17
(As delivered)
Thank you, Madame President.
I thank Mr. Turk and Ms. Salmon for their insightful briefings. I also thank Mr. Illhyeok Kim, a civil society representative, for sharing his firsthand account from North Korea. It is truly heartbreaking and we appreciate his courage to be here with us today.
Today, after nearly six years, we reconvene here in this Chamber to discuss the human rights situation in North Korea, one of the most egregious in the world, and its implication for international peace and security.
Over a decade ago, the UN Commission of Inquiry identified systematic, widespread, and gross violations of human rights in North Korea, many labeled as crimes against humanity.
Today, as pointed out by the briefers, we witness that these same troubling patterns persist. The dreadful human rights situation in North Korea remains stagnant, showing no improvement or even signs of it. Japan finds this deeply alarming and unacceptable. Their insights also underscore the Commission's assertion that North Korea is unparalleled in its human rights violations in the contemporary world.
Madame President,
The reason for this stagnation is clear. North Korea staunchly imposes on its people the regime’s pursuits, in particular its unlawful nuclear and missile developments. This alone compellingly illustrates the inextricable link between North Korea’s human rights abuses and its pursuit of militaristic ambitions.
But it does not end there. The relevant Security Council resolutions and General Assembly resolutions reveal another facet of North Korea's disturbing scheme: the exploitation of its people overseas. Sent to foreign shores, these individuals are trapped in a life of servitude, their efforts indirectly supporting North Korea's unlawful nuclear and missile programs.
Worse still is the regime’s denial to people at home. North Korea has been diverting essential resources toward its unlawful development of nuclear weapons and missiles at the expense of the welfare of people in North Korea while they have great unmet needs.
According to the “State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023,” nearly half is under-nourished in North Korea, that is a staggering number of 12 million people. How many mouths could have been fed, how many lives uplifted, including the young generation, had these resources been properly channeled?
Madame President,
For perspective, consider this: North Korea has launched a record-number of 70 or more missiles last year, and they have already launched ICBM-class ballistic missiles four times this year in violation of multiple Security Council resolutions, most likely capable of reaching all parts of Asia, Europe, North America, Africa, and even some of South America. North Korea has also indicated they will continue such unlawful and dangerous acts, including mass production of nuclear warheads.
The intertwining of human rights violations with international peace and security cannot be more obvious in the case of North Korea. I must stress that addressing such deep concerns is clearly central to the mission of this Council.
Madame President,
Please allow me to raise a particularly serious human rights violation by North Korea: abductions. Many Japanese citizens, including a girl as young as thirteen, one-three, were kidnapped by North Korean agents. The act of international abductions infringes on a nation's sovereignty and jeopardizes the well-being and safety of its citizens, thus posing a serious risk to the international community. The abductees remain trapped, their agonies renewed each passing day, and has High Commissioner Turk noted, with every tick of the clock, aging families despair, as their dreams of reunion remain unrealized. Many have unfortunately passed away with the pain of separation as their last memory of their loved one. But Japan is not alone. The OHCHR recognizes nationals from the Republic of Korea, China, France, Lebanon, Malaysia, Romania, Singapore and Thailand to have shared this sorrow. The urgency is palpable. I urge the international community to come together to achieve the speedy return of each and every abductee. Madame President, This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While strides have been made, the grave human rights landscape in North Korea, and its unsettling implications for international peace and security, stands out starkly. It is imperative that North Korea heeds the messages from this Council today. It is high time they embarked on tangible measures to address serious human rights violations, cease its unlawful nuclear and missiles programs, fully comply with all relevant resolutions and return to dialogue. At the same time, it falls upon this Council to consistently bring "The Situation in the DPRK" to the fore until North Korea recalibrates their stance on human rights and genuinely commits to fostering international peace and security. We must continue our work. I thank you.
Please allow me to raise a particularly serious human rights violation by North Korea: abductions. Many Japanese citizens, including a girl as young as thirteen, one-three, were kidnapped by North Korean agents. The act of international abductions infringes on a nation's sovereignty and jeopardizes the well-being and safety of its citizens, thus posing a serious risk to the international community. The abductees remain trapped, their agonies renewed each passing day, and has High Commissioner Turk noted, with every tick of the clock, aging families despair, as their dreams of reunion remain unrealized. Many have unfortunately passed away with the pain of separation as their last memory of their loved one. But Japan is not alone. The OHCHR recognizes nationals from the Republic of Korea, China, France, Lebanon, Malaysia, Romania, Singapore and Thailand to have shared this sorrow. The urgency is palpable. I urge the international community to come together to achieve the speedy return of each and every abductee. Madame President, This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While strides have been made, the grave human rights landscape in North Korea, and its unsettling implications for international peace and security, stands out starkly. It is imperative that North Korea heeds the messages from this Council today. It is high time they embarked on tangible measures to address serious human rights violations, cease its unlawful nuclear and missiles programs, fully comply with all relevant resolutions and return to dialogue. At the same time, it falls upon this Council to consistently bring "The Situation in the DPRK" to the fore until North Korea recalibrates their stance on human rights and genuinely commits to fostering international peace and security. We must continue our work. I thank you.