ICC Note: The leaders of North and South Korea had a historic meeting at Panmunjeon yesterday. They issued joint declaration aiming to formally end the Korean War. However, there was near-total absence of human rights on their agenda except for reconnecting separated families. Amnesty International calls for human rights to be included in any future talks as they are inevitably linked to peace and security.  

04/27/2018 North Korea (Amnesty International) – Responding to the joint declaration following talks between the leaders of North and South Korea at Panmunjeom, Amnesty International’s East Asia Researcher Arnold Fang said:

“The declaration should be viewed with cautious optimism, but the near-total absence of human rights from today’s agenda was a missed opportunity.”

“These are unprecedented talks but governments must not shy away from raising the dire human rights situation in North Korea directly with Kim Jong-un and his government. It is imperative that human rights are not sidelined in any future talks, as their protection is intrinsically linked to peace and security.”

“The two Koreas should now take concrete steps to address the violations that were a direct result of the war. Families have been torn apart and both governments must work together to allow regular contact between family members, especially those who were involuntarily separated.”.

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