UN : Inter-Korean talks for resolving Rights concerns: UN

An independent United Nations human rights expert on Friday stressed the need for a quick resumption of dialogue between the Republic of Korea.

Those were just a few of the issues that came up during the Nov 22 to 26 visit to the ROK by Marzuki Darusman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People?s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Darusman, in a statement issued on Friday, said that he recognized the ?gravity of the recent military actions? that have escalated tensions between the two countries.

?While these developments will require careful analysis, I join with others in expressing my sympathy to the victims and calling for restraint,? he stated.

?This underscores the importance and need for resumption of multilateral meetings, involving the DPRK.

Darusman emphasized, both to ROK and the international community, the importance of continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to DPRK, and to ensure that the aid reaches the neediest population.

?I understand that, among other things, the draft provisions include a proposal for a more systematic recording of the human rights situation in the DPRK.?

While fewer than 1,000 defectors from the DPRK had made their way to ROK up until the late 1990s, on Friday there are 20,000 of them sheltered in ROK, with a record 2,927 arriving in 2009 alone. Around 77 per cent of these arrivals are women.

On the issue of the DPRK asylum-seekers, Darusman said there has been a steady increase in the number of persons seeking refuge in ROK.

Darusman will present his full report to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council in March 2011.

The Special Rapporteur, who works in an independent and unpaid capacity, intends to travel to Japan on a similar assessment mission, the findings of which will also be included in next year?s report.

His request in October to visit DPRK ?did not receive a favourable decision from the Government,? he noted.