Blog #5: North Korea Accountable for Abductions.

An investigator of the United Nations has called for international action to take place to have North Korea to take account for the abduction of foreigners over the past several decades. From the 1960s to the 1990s, North Korean agents have abducted hundreds of foreign citizens from China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Romania, Malaysia, and Lebanon. 12 people of Japan have been identified who have not returned by the Japanese authorities, however, they are still currently investigating 881 other citizens who could've possibly been abducted by North Korea. Marzuki Darusman, the special rapporteur handling the case, is presenting strategies to resolve the issue in Geneva next week to the United Nations Human Rights Council. 

North Korea is usually under speculation over the treatment of citizens within their country and their actions can seem questionable, however, the arising case of hundreds of missing citizens delivers a whole new situation for North Korea. Not only is North Korea violating human rights by physically taking and forcing someone into their own country, but they are also involving violation of laws and rights from the other countries. Bringing this issue to the United Nations Human Rights Council can only be effective if North Korea chooses to comply and admit to the numerous kidnappings years ago, otherwise North Korea will continue to deny any allegations set upon them. This is not the first issue about North Korea to be brought to the United Nations Human Rights Council.  It is reasonable for one to believe that change has to happen for human rights in North Korea to accommodate the past and pave a way for a better future for the citizens of the country. 

Rachel Ear
3/19/2015
4:36 pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/10/world/asia/un-presses-north-korea-to-account-for-abductions.html