South Korea defends its North Korea human rights plan

Dec. 19 (UPI) -- There are no changes to Seoul's position on the need to improve the "freedom and social rights" of ordinary North Koreans, South Korea's unification ministry said Wednesday.

The ministry released the statement in response to a local press report claiming the word "freedom" was removed from its official position, Newsis reported.

The ministry said its 2018 North Korea Human Rights Promotion Plan includes the "right to freedom" for North Korean citizens, as part of its goal of advancing North Korean human rights.

The issue of South Korean prisoners of war and South Korean citizens kidnapped to North Korea are given a level of priority comparable to 2017, the ministry said, adding the issues "have not been reduced in importance."

The government agency also denied claims it had reduced the number of "North Korea human rights tasks" from seven to two.

"It is not true. The plan has two major categories, with five sub-categories," the ministry said, adding its 2018 plan includes goals for humanitarian cooperation between the two Koreas, resolving the issue of separated families, and inter-Korea human rights dialogue.

South Korea has not raised the issue of North Korea human rights with Pyongyang in historic summits held three times in 2018.

Defectors have said North Korea human rights abuses range from summary execution to rape, torture and forced labor.

The North's impoverished economy makes it difficult for ordinary people to make a sufficient living.

South Korea's national statistical office said Wednesday North Korea's economic growth slowed by 3.5 percent in 2017, a year of heightened provocations.

The agency's annual North Korea index released this week estimates North Korea's total trade value is $5.55 billion and the country's gross domestic product is about $32 billion.

Gross national income per capita is about $1,300, Tongil News reported.