Human rights groups are calling on U.S. President Joe Biden to appoint a special envoy for North Korean human rights, a position that has been vacant since January 2017. The North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 directs the U.S. president to name a person for the role, subject to Senate confirmation. “We remain concerned about the human rights situation in the DPRK and the United States is committed to placing human rights at the center of our foreign policy." “While simple bureaucratic neglect may play a role, there is no disguising the fact that this delay shows a lack of political priority being given to North Korean human rights issues,” added Robertson of Human Rights Watch. At the same time, Scarlatoiu of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea said, the delay is reasonable as “the Biden administration has been dealing with multiple other priorities and emergencies.”Pressure on North KoreaSome experts think appointing a human rights envoy for North Korea will add pressure on North Korea as the Biden administration remains open to talks with the regime, which have been deadlocked since October 2019.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 30, 2021 04:56 UTC