Dialogue with Representatives of Civil Society and Academia in Preparation for Fourth Cycle Universal Periodic Review of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

1. On July 4, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK) organized a dialogue with participants from civil society and academia in preparation for the ROK government's participation in the fourth cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) scheduled for November this year.

2. Mr. Lee Chul, Director-General for International Organizations and Nuclear Affairs, presided over the meeting and explained the ROK government's efforts to address North Korean human rights issues in various settings, including the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, in line with the current administration's stance of emphasizing the significance of universal values. He also stressed the importance of utilizing this opportunity effectively since the UPR provides a rare occasion to engage the DPRK through the UN mechanism.

3. Representatives from civil society and academia presented their recommendations for the upcoming UPR of the DPRK and exchanged various perspectives on the ROK government's strategy in taking part in the UPR.

4. Based on the discussions with civil society and academia, the ROK government will prepare its participation in the fourth cycle UPR of the DPRK with the aim of enhancing the international community's awareness on and bringing positive changes to the human rights situation in the DPRK.