Seoul links denuclearization to N. Korean human rights

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- The North Korean people's human rights won't be
improved unless the communist country completely abandons its nuclear weapons
program, a senior Seoul official said Friday.
Hong Yang-ho, vice unification minister, said North Korea's citizens will be
enriched and happier only after the North returns to the six-party
denuclearization talks, entirely dismantles its nuclear weapons program and forms
new relations with international society.
"North Korea's human rights situation cannot be fundamentally improved unless the
country shakes off the shackles of chronic economic difficulties stemming from
international isolation from the nuclear problem," Hong said at a North Korean
human rights conference held in Seoul.
"One of the various approaches to improving the North's human rights conditions
is complete settlement of the North Korean nuclear problem."
Pyongyang has boycotted the six-party talks, claiming the forum was used to
infringe on its sovereign right to develop nuclear and space technology. The
talks involve the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.
"We don't intend to start a dispute with North Korea by taking issue with its
human rights issues. As a member of international community, we just want to see
North Korean people become happier," said Hong.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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