Ambassador Larry Dinger
Senior Area Advisor for East Asia and the Pacific Islands
New York, New York
October 22, 2021
AS DELIVERED
Special Rapporteur Quintana, thank you for your report and for your efforts to champion human rights in the DPRK.
Your report describes egregious human rights violations and abuses, exacerbated by the full-scale border shutdown, internal travel restrictions, and restricted imports of humanitarian supplies.
The DPRK government’s repressive actions extend beyond its own borders, and the United States condemns its involvement in international abductions, forced disappearances, and deportations. We are gravely concerned about the reported use of torture and compulsory abortions following forced repatriations to the DPRK.
We join your call for the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained due to their religion or beliefs. We also urge the government to end its restriction on access to information, which is exacerbated by the international isolation the regime imposes on its citizens.
Question: How can the international community better support the efforts of civil society to improve respect for human rights in the DPRK?
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