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| US warns N Korea on rights record | US warns N Korea on rights record |
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| North Korea must improve its "appalling" human rights record if it wants better relations with the United States, a visiting US envoy has said. | North Korea must improve its "appalling" human rights record if it wants better relations with the United States, a visiting US envoy has said. |
| Robert King, US special envoy for North Korean human rights, is on his first official trip to South Korea. | Robert King, US special envoy for North Korean human rights, is on his first official trip to South Korea. |
| In its traditional New Year editorial, the North called for an end to hostile relations with the United States. | In its traditional New Year editorial, the North called for an end to hostile relations with the United States. |
| Mr King also insisted that people fleeing the North should be recognised as refugees. | Mr King also insisted that people fleeing the North should be recognised as refugees. |
| Many who flee into China have been caught and sent back to North Korea as economic migrants. | Many who flee into China have been caught and sent back to North Korea as economic migrants. |
| 'Appalling' | 'Appalling' |
| "It's one of the worst places in terms of lack of human rights. The situation is appalling," Mr King said on the first full day of a fact-finding visit to South Korea. | "It's one of the worst places in terms of lack of human rights. The situation is appalling," Mr King said on the first full day of a fact-finding visit to South Korea. |
| "As we have said on many occasions a relationship between the US and North Korea will have to involve human rights," Mr King told reporters after meeting Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan. | "As we have said on many occasions a relationship between the US and North Korea will have to involve human rights," Mr King told reporters after meeting Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan. |
| "To improve relations between the US and North Korea will have to involve a greater respect for human rights by North Korea. That's one of the important conditions," he said. | "To improve relations between the US and North Korea will have to involve a greater respect for human rights by North Korea. That's one of the important conditions," he said. |
| Mr King said rights must be addressed as part of stalled six-party nuclear disarmament talks. | Mr King said rights must be addressed as part of stalled six-party nuclear disarmament talks. |
| The US nuclear envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, visited the North last month to try to persuade it to return to the six-party talks. | The US nuclear envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, visited the North last month to try to persuade it to return to the six-party talks. |
| The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva last month heard demands from western countries that North Korea open up to international organisations and monitors. | The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva last month heard demands from western countries that North Korea open up to international organisations and monitors. |
| Countries also raised concerns about "serious human rights violations" including reports of child labour, executions, the detention of political prisoners and torture. | Countries also raised concerns about "serious human rights violations" including reports of child labour, executions, the detention of political prisoners and torture. |
| The North's representative dismissed many of the allegations as "fabricated". | The North's representative dismissed many of the allegations as "fabricated". |
| The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Vitit Muntarbhorn, is also visiting South Korea this week, but has been barred from travelling to the North. | |
| Lasting peace? | Lasting peace? |
| Mr King also said the US was trying to find out what happened to the young missionary, Robert Park, who walked into North Korea in late December. | Mr King also said the US was trying to find out what happened to the young missionary, Robert Park, who walked into North Korea in late December. |
| "We are actively working to find out where he is being held and to urge that he be released. We have requested that our protecting power in Pyongyang determine his condition and we have not heard yet what that is," Mr King said. | "We are actively working to find out where he is being held and to urge that he be released. We have requested that our protecting power in Pyongyang determine his condition and we have not heard yet what that is," Mr King said. |
| North Korea's New Year message, carried in major newspapers, said Pyongyang wanted "a lasting peace system on the Korean Peninsula". | North Korea's New Year message, carried in major newspapers, said Pyongyang wanted "a lasting peace system on the Korean Peninsula". |
| In response, a US State Department official said North Korea should show its good faith by returning to six-party talks on its nuclear programme. | In response, a US State Department official said North Korea should show its good faith by returning to six-party talks on its nuclear programme. |
| Pyongyang pulled out of the talks last April following widespread condemnation of a long-range missile launch. | Pyongyang pulled out of the talks last April following widespread condemnation of a long-range missile launch. |
| International pressure grew following a nuclear test in May - which drew UN sanctions and further missile tests. | International pressure grew following a nuclear test in May - which drew UN sanctions and further missile tests. |
| But in December, North Korea said it would work with the US to "narrow remaining differences" following a visit to Pyongyang by US President Barack Obama's special envoy Stephen Bosworth. | But in December, North Korea said it would work with the US to "narrow remaining differences" following a visit to Pyongyang by US President Barack Obama's special envoy Stephen Bosworth. |