June 11, 2018

Never Give up on the Human Rights of North Koreans

By Abraham Cooper and Greg Scarlatoiu*


For almost three decades, US administrations have tiptoed around the egregious human rights violations perpetrated by the Kim regimes in North Korea. But US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has already changed the equation, by succeeding in securing the release of American detainees Kim Dong-chul, Kim (Tony) Sang-duk, and Kim Hak-song. A reminder to us and the world that the US still has the clout to move the needle on human rights.

On the eve of the Singapore Summit we urge President Trump to put the release of Japanese, other foreign and South Korean abductees, the reunion of separated Korean families, and the complete, verifiable, irreversible dismantlement of the North Korean political prison camps, as the bill the DPRK must foot to become a normal and responsible member of the international community.

Three generations of the Kim family regime have continued to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles at the expense of the human security of North Koreans, and to egregiously violate the human rights of their citizens. In order to tackle North Korean threats, the Trump Administration has applied three of the four fundamental elements of national power (diplomatic, information, military, economic power, DIME): economic power through the strengthening of the international sanctions regime; military power through the deployment of assets to the region and the reaffirming of US commitment to our Korean and Japanese allies; and diplomatic power, employing for the first time summit diplomacy, made possible by the maximum economic and military pressure and the resuscitation of inter-Korean dialogue, starting with the Pyongchang Winter Olympics.

Kim Jong-un wants security guarantees, but history has taught time and again liberal democracies shouldn’t try to guarantee the survival of a regime that runs political prison camps and commits crimes against humanity. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his key advisers represent a generation of progressive intellectuals who helped democratize their nation. Their lasting legacy however, will be ultimately defined by their stance on North Korean human rights. Will they appease tyranny and lead the ROK down the path of catastrophic compromise? Or will they become the heroes who brought freedom and human rights to both Koreas, thus decisively opening the path of unification under a truly democratic and prosperous Republic of Korea?

Time will tell. But early signs are not encouraging. The recent ban on leaflet balloon launches and loudspeaker broadcasting into North Korea is one reason for concern. North Korean escapees in South Korea give voice to silenced millions. At this critical crossroads in history, the South Korean administration must protect these heroes and ensure their voices are heard, not muffled.

All this puts the spotlight on the US’ summit diplomacy. Will it be a historic achievement for President or just another déjà vu North Korean scam?

Under any conceivable outcome, in order to achieve ultimate peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia--a fundamental U.S. security interestthe nature of the Kim regime and its horrific human rights abuses must remain in focus. 

Human rights cannot be treated as a sidebar issue, possibly sacrificed for a wink and a nod and photo-op with Kim. Human rights must not be abandoned to appease the Kim regime. Human rights cannot be postponed until an ever-elusive future scenario where the Kim regime miraculously agrees to protect the rights of its citizens. Despots do not give away human rights out of the goodness of their hearts. Human rights are always achieved and protected through struggle.

Can the US remove a nuclear threat and guarantee human rights and dignity simultaneously?

President Trump please take note, America already did it and with a much more dangerous foe. During the Cold War, President Reagan and then Secretary of State George Shultz used the issue of freedom for Soviet Jewry as the litmus test for Soviet intentions on Nuclear Disarmament. Eventually, human rights prevailed and the communist system dissolved without a shot being fired.

The US should counter Kim’s cycle of “charm offensives,” not through appeasement but through verifiable changes in North Korea. It is important to witness the blowing up of one nuclear test site. Of equal importance will be the dismantling of Kim’s Gulag. When that occurs and only then can the world be assured that the two estranged Koreas are on the path to a peaceful reunification and a hopeful future for all.

*Rabbi Abraham Cooper is Associate Dean and Director, Global Social Action Agenda
Simon Wiesenthal Center

Greg Scarlatoiu is Executive Director, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK)

2 comments:

ShokkuMasta said...

Thank you HRNK - ethics should not be compromised. I hope that this message gets to the heart of discussions between President Trump and Chairman Un. Thank you Grigoré

Faith McDonnell said...

Thank you for this great article. Greg Scarlatoiu and Rabbi Cooper - you are both ROCK STARS to me. From way before the time that we managed to pass the NK Human Rights Act in Congress, you have been leading the way. President Trump has a chance to Make America Great FOR HUMAN RIGHTS Again, by linking the nuclear issue and human rights/religious freedom in North Korea. G-D bless you, Faith McDonnell, International Religious Liberty Program Director, Institute on Religion and Democracy