Abstention Update

There are fresh signs that Seoul is feeling strong pressure not to abstain from the upcoming vote to condemn the North’s human rights record. Perhaps because of internal disagreements, the Foreign Ministry is backing away from previous reports that Seoul has decided to abstain.

“The government position has not been decided,” said the minister, speaking to members of the National Assembly’s Unification, Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee. Mr. Ban said Seoul would base its decision on the current situation on the peninsula, ongoing North Korean nuclear negotiations and inter-Korean relations.
. . . .

If passed by the UN, the resolution would not result in any official action, such as economic sanctions, but an abstention by Seoul would cast an even grimmer light on an administration that has so far shown little willingness to stand up for human rights. The UN decision will be made before the general assembly closes on Nov. 23.

Meanwhile, Vitit Muntarbhorn, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, is in Seoul meeting defectors and collecting information on the North’s human rights situation. He has been denied entry to the North.

Again, I’d be amazed if they actually vote on this, but it’s good to see their heads in the vise.