Editor’s Note

Woo Young Lee, a Professor at the University of North Korean Studies, points out that South Korea's efforts to improve North Korean human rights have been impeded by extreme polarization between the progressive and conservative camps. In this context, Lee argues that South Korea's official North Korean human rights reports must focus on impartial analysis of the human rights conditions in North Korea, rather than merely blaming the Kim Jong Un regime. He also urges the South Korean government to establish clear policy priorities regarding North Korea in order to foster constructive bipartisan discussions on North Korean human rights issues.