Background Information
North Korea is a sovereign state in East Asia, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It has a population of over 25 million and shares its borders with China, South Korea, and Russia. Internationally, North Korea is recognized as an isolated, authoritarian state led by its Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un.
The nation’s government heavily restricts freedom of press, speech, and movement within their borders. With the growing concern over North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities in recent years, the international community has struggled to contain the nation’s authoritarian approach to government.
Reality
North Korea is not a part of the United Nations (UN). The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that was established to promote international cooperation and maintain peace. It is composed of 193 member states from all around the world. The UN aims to address global issues ranging from economic to social and humanitarian assistance, as well as security and disarmament.
While North Korea does maintain a representative mission to the United Nations, it does not have full member status. North Korea’s relationship with the UN and other international organizations has been historically strained due to its nuclear and missile tests, hostile acts on the Korean peninsula, and general disregard for international law.
Reasons Behind North Korea’s Isolation
North Korea’s refusal to adhere to UN sanctions, observe nuclear and missile limitations, and honor diplomatic engagement have contributed to their international isolation. The country remains under a web of UN sanctions, most of which have been in place since 2006 in response to the nation’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
North Korea’s retreat from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Agreement, failure to adhere to UN Security Council resolutions, and continued nuclear and missile testing in spite of international condemnation, have left many countries, including the United States, cautious of North Korea’s intentions and unwilling to negotiate without clear steps to de-nuclearize the Korean peninsula.
Involvement In The United Nations
North Korea’s relationship with the UN has deteriorated over the years due to their resistance to collaborate with the international community and failure to comply with UN Security Council resolutions. The nation has been banned from participating in any UN activities related to human rights due to its flagrant violations of human rights standards.
Despite the sanctions and condemnation, North Korea does participate in some UN activities. The nation has a representative mission to the United Nations, which is currently led by Kim Song, a diplomat from North Korea. The mission participates in general debates during the General Assembly’s annual sessions and provides input in the discussions about non-proliferation, disarmament, human rights, and development.
Outlook For The Future
As long as North Korea continues to violate UN Security Council resolutions and UN-mandated nuclear and missile restrictions, its prospects for gaining full member status in the United Nations remain bleak. It is unlikely that the UN Security Council will lift sanctions unless the North Korean government takes concrete steps toward denuclearization, reduces its provocative activity, and begins to follow international law.
However, the UN envisions a potential future in which North Korea is able to escape its current isolated state to participate fully in international society. The organization is focused on strengthening the rule of law and providing a safe forum to address global security threats, with the ultimate goal of helping North Korea gain entry into the UN.
U.N. Support For North Korea
In an effort to find a peaceful solution to the current situation on the Korean peninsula, the UN has provided support for North Korea. In 2017, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a project to increase access to safe drinking water in North Korea, noting that the nation lacked basic infrastructure and clean drinking water for much of its population.
The UNDP worked alongside the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help ensure that the project was properly monitored to ensure that the intended results were achieved. The UN also provided economic and technical assistance to North Korea throughout the project.
The most recent UNDP project in North Korea was the North Korea Infrastructure Assistance Initiative (NKIAI), which was launched in 2019. NKIAI works to provide financial and technical support to the North Korean government to increase access to clean water and sanitation systems, improve health services and increase access to nutritious food. The overall goal of the initiative is to improve the life of North Koreans and create a more stable environment on the Korean peninsula.
UN Response To Human Rights Violations
The United Nations has long been an advocate for human rights, and wants to ensure that North Korea is held to the same standards as other nations. In addition to sanctions designed to curtail North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities, the UN has condemned the country for its gross human rights violations, including systematic torture, political prison camps and executions.
The UN has called for the North Korean government to end these practices and has urged the international community to impose targeted sanctions against those responsible for the abuses. The UN has also launched initiatives such as the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy, which calls for multinational companies to ensure that their activities in North Korea comply with international standards of human rights.
International Relations With North Korea
Due to North Korea’s refusal to cooperate with the international community on matters of nuclear arms control, the UN and other international organizations have been hesitant to offer North Korea more than limited assistance. Despite the strained relationship, North Korea still maintains diplomatic and trade ties with many countries, with China and Russia as two of its main partners.
The UN has taken steps to engage with North Korea and wants to resolve the conflict peacefully. But the UN and other countries remain skeptical that North Korea will comply with international law, and sanctions on the country still remain in place.
The Role Of South Korea
South Korea has played an important role in recent efforts to improve the relationship between North Korea and the global community. In 2018, a series of high-level talks between North Korean and South Korean leaders and the signing of the Panmunjom Declaration committed the two countries to work towards the goal of achieving a peaceful Korean peninsula.
South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in has called for negotiated denuclearization and has proposed joint economic projects with North Korea. In 2019, South Korea resumed economic cooperation with North Korea by funding humanitarian projects, which the UN and other countries supported.
South Korea has also offered to act as an intermediary between the NATO countries and North Korea. In 2018, South Korea played a key role in facilitating the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, in Singapore. The summit resulted in an agreement to work towards the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, signaling a potential new direction in the long-standing conflict.
