Secretary of State John Kerry has issued statements denouncing the North Korean government. Kerry called North Korea “an evil, evil place”, discussing “human rights violations”, including executions involving “122-millimeter aircraft guns to obliterate people and force people to watch these kind of executions.”
Kerry reiterated that North Korea was evil, and said the world would need to focus to keep the country accountable. Kerry thinks “every aspect of any law that can be applied should be applied.”
These statements come against the background of North Korean defectors giving “harrowing testimony” to a United Nations inquiry. The U.N.’s report said “North Korea’s leaders should be brought before an international court for a litany of crimes against humanity.” The article did not elaborate on what actions might be pursued. The report found that “systemic, widespread and gross human rights violations have been and are being committed by North Korea, its institutions and officials.”
As the details in the United Nations report become more widely disseminated, what role should the United States, or the United Nations, play in protecting the citizens of North Korea from their government?
I am troubled by the characterization of North Korea as an evil place. This is a vast oversimplification of the situation in North Korea. If the international community wants to take some responsibility for the fates of North Korean citizens, it is important to distinguish between the government and the people it oppresses. Labeling an entire nation as “evil” is not an effective way to encourage international understanding and community.