HC Deb 02 February 2004 vol 417 cc675-6W
Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to promote use of the World Service in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. [151884]

Mr. Rammell

The Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) jams radio broadcasts from outside the country. Short wave would be the main frequency for BBC World Service, but short wave radios are illegal in DPRK. We urge DPRK to remove the restrictions on access to information and freedom of expression by its people.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking in bilateral talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to further the protection of human rights there. [151885]

Mr. Rammell

We are concerned about reports of serious human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The lack of access for independent monitors makes it difficult to verify these reports. We raise human rights issues regularly with the DPRK authorities via our embassy in Pyongyang and the DPRK embassy in London. We also encourage DPRK to comply with the recommendations set out in the resolution adopted at last year's UN Commission on Human Rights. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) sponsored two DPRK officials to attend a human rights training course at Essex University in 2002, and proposed a visit by the Head of the FCO's Human Rights Policy Department in 2003. The latter has yet to be granted.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking within the(a) EU and (b) UN to further the protection of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. [151886]

Mr. Rammell

The EU has been closely monitoring the human rights situation in North Korea, and having seen little evidence of improvement in recent years, tabled a resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) in 2003. The resolution expressed concern at reports of serious and continued human rights violations in North Korea, and called on DPRK to co-operate with the UN human rights machinery. The resolution was adopted by the largest majority of any country-specific resolution.