The former chairman of the UN’s North Korean Human Rights Commission warned that “the anti-shear law will conflict with the Biden government.

As the international community continues to criticize North Korea’s War Prohibition Act (the South-North Relations Development Act), concerns have been raised that the North Korea War Prohibition Act could lead to a conflict between Korea and the United States in the early stages of Joe Biden’s next administration.

Michael Kirby, former chairman of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in North Korea. [연합뉴스]

According to US Free Asia Broadcasting (RFA) on the 19th (local time), Michael Kirby, former chairman of the United Nations Commission for Human Rights Investigation of North Korea (IOC), said in an online hearing about the ‘Secondary Conference on North Korea (APPG NK) of the British Parliament, “noted that the ban on war against North Korea could conflict with the new US administration, which values’ freedom of speech’.

Former President Kirby proposed the First Amendment to the United States as a basis. Article 1 of the Amendment regulates freedom of expression, such as the press, publication, and assembly, and prohibits any legislation that blocks this right.

“What Americans are constantly talking about is Article 1 of the Amendment.” did.

Robert King, former US State Department special envoy for North Korea’s human rights at the hearing, said: “The prohibition of war against North Korea is not supported in the United States” and “President Jae- in Moon should consider refusing to sign. ”

Republican Congressman Chris Smith, co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Committee, a bipartisan human rights organization in Congress. He announced the holding of a hearing in November, saying that the Korean law on the prohibition of extending the war to North Korea “ignores the freedom of citizens.” [AP=연합뉴스]

The United States Congress has also raised the issue that North Korea’s law of war violates freedom of expression.

According to the Voice of the United States (VOA), Congressman Gerald Connally, in a statement on the 17th, urged President Moon Jae-in to “take serious amendments before signing the war bill against North Korea.” Congressman Connolly is co-chair of the “Korean caucus,” a group of members of the United States Congress.

In a statement, he argued, “the bill could undermine the ability of human rights organizations in South Korea to convey independent and diverse information to North Koreans and undermine freedom of expression.”

Before this, on the 14th, when the law was passed, the secretary of the Republican Party of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the House of Representatives, Michael McCawul, issued a statement in which he said: “We are concerned about the actions of the Republic from Korea”.

Members of civic groups, including the South Korean Committee on the June 15 Joint Declaration, held a press conference in front of the Yeouido National Assembly in Seoul on November 26 and urged legislation to ban fumigation. the war against North Korea. [뉴스1]

The United States Congress has already announced that it will hold a hearing on the war ban against North Korea with the start of a new session in January next year.

In this regard, Washington Post columnist Josh Login said on the 17th that “Korea’s new law against North Korea is provoking a backlash from Washington.” .

According to Login, US Secretary of State Stephen Biegan also conveyed the Trump administration’s concern about anti-war laws to the South Korean government during his visit to Korea from 9-11.
Reporter Lee Min-jung [email protected]