U.S. Sees Human Rights as 'Top Priority' Issue for N.Korea

U.S. special envoy for North Korea human rights issues Robert King said that human rights is a "top priority" for relations to progress between Washington and Pyongyang.

Addressing a forum at the National Endowment for Democracy on Thursday, King said that while the North must "fulfill its denuclearization commitments," it must also address its human rights issues.

He added that closer relations with the U.S. will be significantly impacted depending on how the communist country moves forward with human rights.

North Korea ranks as one of the world's worst human rights abusers. A recent U.S. State Department report outlines the regime's extrajudicial killings, torture and forced abortions. According to the report, captured expectant mothers who try to flee the country are forced to watch the murder of their newborn infants.


(2010-10-22/english.chosun)