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North Korea admits to having labour camps ahead of human rights discussions North Korea 'admits to having labour camps' ahead of human rights discussions
(about 14 hours later)
North Korea has publicly acknowledged the existence of its labour camps for the first time in an admission that appeared to come in response to a highly critical UN human rights report earlier this year.North Korea has publicly acknowledged the existence of its labour camps for the first time in an admission that appeared to come in response to a highly critical UN human rights report earlier this year.
Diplomats for the reclusive country also told reporters that a top North Korean official had visited the headquarters of the EU and expressed interest in dialogue, with discussions on human rights expected next year.Diplomats for the reclusive country also told reporters that a top North Korean official had visited the headquarters of the EU and expressed interest in dialogue, with discussions on human rights expected next year.
North Korea’s deputy UN ambassador Ri Tong-il said the secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party had visited the EU and Pyongyang was expecting “to open political dialogue between the two sides”.North Korea’s deputy UN ambassador Ri Tong-il said the secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party had visited the EU and Pyongyang was expecting “to open political dialogue between the two sides”.
In Brussels, an EU spokesperson confirmed the EU’s top human rights official, Stavros Lambrinidis, had recently held a meeting.In Brussels, an EU spokesperson confirmed the EU’s top human rights official, Stavros Lambrinidis, had recently held a meeting.
Choe Myong-nam, a North Korean foreign ministry official in charge of UN affairs and human rights, said at a briefing with reporters that his country had no prison camps and, in practice, “no prison, things like that”.Choe Myong-nam, a North Korean foreign ministry official in charge of UN affairs and human rights, said at a briefing with reporters that his country had no prison camps and, in practice, “no prison, things like that”.
However, he briefly discussed the “reform through labour” camps. “Both in law and practice, we do have reform through labour detention camps – no, detention centres – where people are improved through their mentality and look on their wrongdoings,” he said.However, he briefly discussed the “reform through labour” camps. “Both in law and practice, we do have reform through labour detention camps – no, detention centres – where people are improved through their mentality and look on their wrongdoings,” he said.
Such “re-education” camps are for common offenders and some political prisoners, but most political prisoners are held in harsher camps.Such “re-education” camps are for common offenders and some political prisoners, but most political prisoners are held in harsher camps.
The North Korean officials took several questions but did not respond to one about the health of the leader, Kim Jong-un, who has made no public appearances since early last month. They said North Korea was not opposed to a human rights dialogue, provided it was not used as a “tool for interference”.The North Korean officials took several questions but did not respond to one about the health of the leader, Kim Jong-un, who has made no public appearances since early last month. They said North Korea was not opposed to a human rights dialogue, provided it was not used as a “tool for interference”.
The briefing seemed timed in advance of the latest resolution on North Korea and human rights that the EU and Japan put to the UN General Assembly every year. In April, UN commission head Michael Kirby told the Security Council: “We dare say that the case of human rights in the DPRK exceeds all others in duration, intensity and horror.”The briefing seemed timed in advance of the latest resolution on North Korea and human rights that the EU and Japan put to the UN General Assembly every year. In April, UN commission head Michael Kirby told the Security Council: “We dare say that the case of human rights in the DPRK exceeds all others in duration, intensity and horror.”
APAP