'No discussion on human rights at Kim-Moon summit'

Seoul, April 11: South Korea on Wednesday said the issue of human rights will not be discussed at the inter-Korean April summit with Pyongyang, since the focus is on denuclearisation of the North. Seoul ruled out the discussions on human rights contrary to what over 40 NGOs had called for on Tuesday, including Amnesty Intertiol (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW), Efe news reported. On Tuesday, intertiol NGOs sent a letter to Moon asking him to press the human rights issues in the April 27 meeting.

An official from the Blue House said it considers denuclearisation “the most urgent issue” in the meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Although the South considers the human rights issue as “important” at present its top priority is denuclearisation and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula. The NGOs have also called on South Korea to urge Kim to follow the UN recommendations on human rights. It also urged Kim to participate in the exchange of information with intertiol organisations and to allow meetings between separated Korean families. The April summit will be the first inter-Korean leaders meeting in 11 years. (IANS)

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