북한인권 문제와 통일의 상관성에 관한 연구

Abstract

This study is about the relationship between the human rights problems of North Korea and Korean reunification. Despite the concerns and efforts of international society regarding the seriousness of human rights violations in North Korea, North Korea has been reacting with the position that any comment on it is damaging their dignity and is motivated by an ulterior intention to subvert their socialist system. Even with ever deteriorating international isolation, the country has not made any attempt to improve human rights. Horrific and repressive infringement of human rights including purges and executions to maintain their system is widespread all around North Korea, and the worsening economic situation and perturbation of citizens lead to a vicious circle of human rights infringement, undermining the very foundation of the system. The more severely the North Korean regime infringes upon the human rights of their citizens to hold on to power, the more the crisis of the regime will accelerate. Within this context of ever increasing instability, South Korea is now at the crucial point where systematic preparations need to be made considering not only improving the human rights situation but also comprehensive situations caused by widespread human rights infringement including sudden upheaval and even reunification. This study focuses on suggesting detailed tasks for the preparation of reunification through the close relationship between the human rights problems in North Korea and reunification of the Korean peninsula.