The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Revised Japanese textbooks distort wartime forced labor, catching Korea off guard

  • 3

    Actor Yoo Ah-in once again apologizes for alleged drug use

  • 5

    Clock ticks for China's massive repatriation of N. Korean defectors

  • 7

    Gold price nears all-time high amid financial jitters

  • 9

    From IVE to NCT DOJAEJUNG, K-pop hotshots brace for April chart race

  • 11

    North Korea unveils tactical nuclear warheads

  • 13

    CJ CheilJedang sees chicken as next big seller after frozen dumpling

  • 15

    Over 1,000 financially vulnerable Koreans apply for new emergency gov't loans

  • 17

    INTERVIEWChoi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet'

  • 19

    Ra Mi-ran, Lee Re to lead fantasy drama 'The Mysterious Candy Store'

  • 2

    Chun Doo-hwan's grandson apprehended at Incheon Int'l Airport over drug use

  • 4

    Korea to ease entry rules to boost tourism, domestic spending

  • 6

    'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand

  • 8

    BMW launches new XM

  • 10

    Ramsar wetland in Han River cleaned up for protected birdlife

  • 12

    Civic groups in Gwangju await meeting with Chun Doo-hwan's grandson

  • 14

    BTS' Jimin tops Spotify's global chart with 'Like Crazy'

  • 16

    2024 budget to focus on tackling low birthrate

  • 18

    Suspect identified in Nashville school shooting that killed 3 children, 3 staff

  • 20

    Samsung Pay partners with Hana Financial to issue student IDs

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, March 30, 2023 | 16:42
Seoul to emphasize human rights in N. Korea
Posted : 2010-12-29 19:57
Updated : 2010-12-29 19:57
Kim Se-jeong
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Kim Se-jeong, Kim Young-jin

The Ministry of Unification said Wednesday that its New Year plan will highlight three main policies — bring about fundamental change in North Korea, advocate human rights there and lay a meaningful foundation for unification.

The ministry said in its briefing to President Lee Myung-bak that this will entail changing the North through denuclearization, opening the country up and improving the lives of North Koreans. It also put forth a “grand bargain” of providing economic assistance — together with the international community— if the North gives up its nuclear program.

The ministry said that it will foremost “prioritize North Korean citizens.” In its defense white paper, South Korea specifically defined the North Korean regime and the military as an “enemy,” in a policy aimed to deal separately with the North Korean people.To that end, the government will seek to pass North Korean human rights legislation. It will also give support to private organizations that advocate the enhancement of human rights; run extensive research on conditions in North Korea; and support domestic and international groups.

The government said it would ensure the transparent distribution of humanitarian assistance from South Korea to ordinary North Koreans, but fell short of specifying how it would do so.

Humanitarian aid to North Korea is often questioned and criticized due to obscure lines of distribution. It is believed that the regime gives the aid to the military, instead of regular citizens.

To prepare for unification that could happen abruptly, the ministry will come up with a detailed action plan to secure funding in the first half of 2011.

It will also publicly debate the issue of unification, begin to train human resources; and revamp its support programs for North Korean defectors living in the South.

The ministry said it would expand services to help them find jobs after resettling by opening more employment consultation centers as well as microfinance programs to assist those opening businesses.

It will also open a second Hanawon resettlement center in Gangwon Province in addition to the one in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. Newly-arrived defectors are required to complete a 12-week course at the center, where they are debriefed and given a crash-course on life in the capitalist South.

The center is slated for completion in 2012.

Mental health, homeless and women’s services for defectors will also be expanded nationwide.

Programs targeting youth defectors will also be increased, including the opening of more schools catering to their needs and group homes for those without families.

The number of defectors has spiked in recent years, surpassing the 20,000 mark earlier this year.
Emailskim@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
Emailyjk@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Korea to ease entry rules to boost tourism, domestic spending Korea to ease entry rules to boost tourism, domestic spending
2Korea moves to shorten COVID-19 isolation period to 5 days Korea moves to shorten COVID-19 isolation period to 5 days
3[INTERVIEW] Can art become stable investment source? INTERVIEWCan art become stable investment source?
4Will dismantling oligopoly result in successful bank industry reform? Will dismantling oligopoly result in successful bank industry reform?
5Generation Z entrepreneurs turn oyster shells into trendy dish soap Generation Z entrepreneurs turn oyster shells into trendy dish soap
6Celltrion chairman vows to develop new drugs, initiate M&As Celltrion chairman vows to develop new drugs, initiate M&As
7Terraform Labs co-founder's extradition could be delayed more than 1 month Terraform Labs co-founder's extradition could be delayed more than 1 month
8Fintech, lifestyle products can help Korea grow trade ties with Hong Kong: city's trade promotion chief in Korea Fintech, lifestyle products can help Korea grow trade ties with Hong Kong: city's trade promotion chief in Korea
9Ex-journalist to lead NK defector support foundation Ex-journalist to lead NK defector support foundation
10Top envoy to US tapped as new national security advisor Top envoy to US tapped as new national security advisor
Top 5 Entertainment News
1'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand 'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand
2From IVE to NCT DOJAEJUNG, K-pop hotshots brace for April chart race From IVE to NCT DOJAEJUNG, K-pop hotshots brace for April chart race
3[INTERVIEW] Choi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet' INTERVIEWChoi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet'
4Ra Mi-ran, Lee Re to lead fantasy drama 'The Mysterious Candy Store' Ra Mi-ran, Lee Re to lead fantasy drama 'The Mysterious Candy Store'
5[INTERVIEW] Ahn Jae-hong on playing underdog basketball coach in 'Rebound' INTERVIEWAhn Jae-hong on playing underdog basketball coach in 'Rebound'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group