CSW speaks out on N Korea as plight of US reporters remains unknown

As member states of the United Nations gathered this week to express concern over the "grave, widespread and systematic human rights abuses" in North Korea (DPRK), the plight of two American journalists illustrated the extent of the country’s disregard for international norms.

Laura Ling, a Chinese-American, and Euna Lee, a Korean-American, both working for Current TV, were arrested by North Korean border guards after embarking on a reporting trip along the China-North Korea border.

The circumstances surrounding the arrests remain unclear. However, North Korea’s official news agency claims the Americans “were detained on March 17 while illegally intruding into the territory of the DPRK by crossing the DPRK-China border”.

The periodic abduction of foreign nationals has long been a feature in North Korea’s foreign relations. Sustained international scrutiny and pressure on this issue eventually led to an admission of guilt by North Korea, and to the release of some of the abducted foreigners. However tens of cases remain outstanding.

Since 2003, successive UN resolutions have identified North Korea as a country of foremost concern. This week’s Human Rights Council’s resolution was no exception, highlighting amongst other things the use of torture and labour camps against political prisoners, and expressing alarm at the precarious humanitarian situation.

The resolution also extends the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for a year, and calls on the DPRK to cooperate fully in allowing the Rapporteur to access the country.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is calling for the "egregious" human rights situation in North Korea to be addressed at the Security Council and for establishing the creation of a commission of inquiry to investigate the nature and scale of serious violations amounting to international crimes.

In its 2007 report 'A Case to Answer – A Call to Act', CSW concludes that there is a prima facie evidence of the commission of crimes against humanity in North Korea, as well as indicators of genocide, particularly against religious groups. It argues that the international community should make a greater effort to bring an end to violations under the principle of "responsibility to protect”.

Tina Lambert, CSW’s Advocacy Director, said: “There is a pressing urgency for the people of North Korea to be freed from the oppression of daily life under Kim Jong-Il’s rule.

"We echo the call of the UN Special Rapporteur to bring to bear the totality of the UN system. In the meantime, it is imperative that the North Korean Government halt the practice of abductions and allow for the immediate release of these two journalists.”