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By Casey Lartigue Jr.
On July 11, as I attended the public release of the English-language version of South Korea's report on the state of human rights in North Korea, I wondered when North Korea would issue a report on South Korea's human rights situation.
The answer came 10 days later when North Korea released a 98-page report about human rights in South Korea. That probably didn't surprise anyone aware of the information and propaganda battles on the Korean Peninsula.
Decades ago, after the South Korean government built a 98-meter-tall (more than 300 feet) flagpole on its side of the DMZ, North Korea responded with a 160-meter (more than 500 feet) flagpole.
During negotiations, North Korean military officials reportedly add inches to the legs of their chairs so they look taller than their South Korean counterparts. In 1969, officials representing both sides sat in silence for over 11 hours challenging the other side to speak first.
In 1998, peace talks in Geneva were delayed for five hours because North Korea's delegation insisted on sitting opposite the American delegation instead of facing the South Koreans. There have been other times that it seems they were playing diplomatic musical chairs without music.
So, of course, North Korea would respond to a South Korean report on its human rights record. South Korea's report on North Korea's human rights is as comprehensive as a report can be about a country that researchers can't visit. In addition to tracking information about North Korea, the report includes interviews with more than 500 North Korean refugees since 2017.
I have yet to see the North Korean counter, but I am willing to accept everything in it as the truth. Based on South Korean news reports, it sounds like the North Korean agents spent a lot of time reading South Korean tabloids, blogs and podcasts.
While some may mock the usual outrage, bravado and fiery non-sequiturs from North Korea when its fragile honor is insulted, I see it as good news that North Korea responds to criticisms.
One, this report suggests that raising awareness about North Korea's human rights violations has an impact. According to refugee testimonials, the U.N.-COI report on North Korea and reports by governments and international organizations have caused North Korea's gangster state to be a bit less brutal. If it is true, for example, that the number of public executions has gone down because of increased scrutiny then it is possible that highlighting the testimonials of North Korean refugees on the international stage can have a positive effect on the lives of North Koreans.
Two, regardless of what North Korea claims in its counter reports, one key difference is that dissidents in countries that North Korea counterpunches are free to set up blogs, podcasts, to do interviews with media, travel around the world, collaborate with others domestically or internationally and can get legal and financial assistance. On the other hand, what kind of rights do dissidents in North Korea have to criticize or fight against the state? North Korea's dissidents remain quiet when they are in the country and don't speak out until they are living in freedom in one of those countries North Korea has labeled a human rights abuser. North Korea's government is the only voice coming out of North Korea, reminding those of us living in freedom how precious it is to be able to state our opinions.
Three, no matter what North Korea says when it counterpunches, how many North Koreans would move to Canada, the USA or South Korea to trade places with their counterparts in those countries in an Unsatisfied Citizen Exchange Program? North Korea highlights abuses and clips from tabloids in other countries, but its border is patrolled by guards with shoot-to-kill orders and the regime has employed many cruel techniques to keep North Koreans from leaving.
North Korea keeps most of its population enslaved to the state but counterpunches with outrage and disgust at what Canada, the USA, South Korea or the U.K. did historically to minority populations or about current domestic disputes.
Defenders of North Korea and critics of South Korea may disagree with some of my points, and that is fine. We are living in freedom and have the right to disagree with one another. I occasionally run into people who have traveled to North Korea and they talk about how much they enjoyed meeting North Koreans there. I ask those people if they can, call, message, or even get on a Zoom call with their friends in North Korea.
They try to counterpunch by criticizing America and South Korea, but they will ultimately admit they can't contact their North Korean friends. No counterpunching reports from North Korea can conceal that basic violation of the freedom of association.
Casey Lartigue Jr. (CJL@alumni.harvard.edu) is co-founder with Lee Eun-koo of Freedom Speakers International (FSI) and co-author with Han Song-mi of the book "Greenlight to Freedom."
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