Advertisement
South Korea’s reunification plan based on human rights risks deepening row with the North
- President Yoon Suk-yeol has called for ‘proactive’ steps in bringing about changes in the North through ideas of freedom
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
3
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s new plan seeking reunification with the North has been hailed by his government as a “practical” policy but analysts warn its promotion of human rights and perceived goal of regime change could heighten tensions with Pyongyang.
Advertisement
Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho told a press briefing on Thursday that the unification doctrine articulated by Yoon last week took into account factors such as the North’s ongoing development of nuclear weapons.
“Reflecting the realities … with North Korea’s advancement of nuclear and missile capabilities, it’s a deteriorating human rights situation and it’s an abandonment of the idea of unification and the Korean nation, the government presents practical strategies that we can carry out,” Kim told journalists.
In his speech on Liberation Day on August 15 marking the end of Japan’s 1910-1945 rule over Korea, Yoon emphasised the need to expose North Koreans to ideas of freedom by providing them with access to outside information.
“We must be more proactive in expanding the value of freedom to the North and inducing substantive changes. Above all, we will take a multifaceted approach to significantly improve human rights in North Korea,” Yoon said.
Advertisement
Yoon also proposed the creation of an inter-Korean working group to address a range of issues including tension reduction, economic cooperation and climate change.
Advertisement