Top nuclear envoy discusses N. Korea issues with U.N. official, ambassadors in Geneva

▲ Kim Gunn (L), South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, poses for photo with Nada Al-Nashif, acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, ahead of their meeting in Geneva on Jan. 25, 2024, in this photo provided by Seoul's foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ Kim Gunn (5th from L) holds a roundtable on North Korean issues with diplomats from 14 countries, including the United States, Japan and Australia, in Geneva, Switzerland, on Jan. 25, 2024, in this photo provided by Seoul's foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

nuclear envoy-Geneva

Top nuclear envoy discusses N. Korea issues with U.N. official, ambassadors in Geneva

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top nuclear envoy has met with a senior U.N. official on human rights and foreign ambassadors in Geneva and discussed North Korea's nuclear and human rights issues, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday.

In the meeting on Thursday (local time) with Nada Al-Nashif, acting U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Kim Gunn highlighted the need for a "comprehensive approach" to deal with the North's nuclear and human rights issues at the same time.

Kim explained to Al-Nashif South Korea's efforts to build international solidarity to shed light on the North's human rights situation and induce a change in Pyongyang's behavior.

Kim asked for support from the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to raise awareness of the North Korean human rights issues in the international community.

North Korea's serious human rights violations gained the international limelight on the back of the landmark report by the U.N. Commission of Inquiry released in 2014.

The report said North Korean leaders are responsible for "widespread, systematic and gross" violations of human rights and the International Criminal Court should take up the issue as "crimes against humanity."

North Korea has long been accused of grave human rights abuses, ranging from holding political prisoners in concentration camps to committing torture and carrying out public executions. However, North Korea claims its people are freely enjoying genuine human rights.

Following the meeting with Al-Nashif, Kim held a roundtable with foreign diplomats in Geneva for discussions on the latest situation on the Korean Peninsula and North Korea's human rights problems.

Ambassadors from 14 countries took part in the session, including the United States, Japan, Chile, Canada, Costa Rica, Australia and New Zealand.

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