Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina Meets with UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK Elizabeth Salmón

On the afternoon of February 2, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jina met with Elizabeth Salmón, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, during her visit to the Republic of Korea.

※ Special Rapporteur Elizabeth Salmón is on an official visit to the Republic of Korea

from February 2 to 6. This is her third official visit since she assumed her role in August 2022.

- The Special Rapporteur is mandated to monitor and examine the human rights situation

in the DPRK and report to the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.

Vice Minister Kim appreciated Special Rapporteur Salmón's continued efforts to raise international awareness of the issue of the human rights situation in the DPRK, and expressed her hope that the Special Rapporteur would continue to play a role in substantively enhancing the human rights of the people in the DPRK.

Vice Minister Kim also valued Special Rapporteur Salmón's focus on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) - a mechanism in which the DPRK cooperates and participates - as the theme for her upcoming report to be submitted to the 61st session of the Human Rights Council (February 23 to March 31), and requested that Special Rapporteur Salmón continue her efforts to engage with the DPRK.

※ The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a peer review process through which the human rights record of all UN Member States is examined every four and a half years, resulting in recommendations for each Member State. The UPR is currently in its fourth cycle (2022-2027). The DPRK participated in the fourth cycle review in November 2024.

Special Rapporteur Salmón stated that she would continue her efforts to encourage the DPRK to cooperate with the international community, including by exploring technical assistance to support the DPRK in implementing its accepted UPR recommendations. She also expressed her readiness to provide necessary support for the efforts toward dialogue and engagement with the DPRK.

During her visit to the ROK, Special Rapporteur Salmón will meet with government officials, including those from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Unification, and the Ministry of Justice, as well as members of civil society. She will hold a press conference regarding her visit at the Seoul Global Center on February 6 at 11:00 a.m.