The Helsinki Process and Human Rights in North Korea

Abstract

This paper examines whether the strategy to link and pursue the peaceful resolution of North Korea`s crisis with human rights in North Korea is pertinent by analyzing the significance of the Helsinki Process from an international political point of view. Focusing on the possibility of the application of the Helsinki Process to engagement policies toward North Korea this paper deals with the following issues. This paper first attempts to examine the trust-building process and economic cooperation between the East and West based on the Helsinki Final Act, and to analyze the Helsinki Process, which was set forth as a method to induce substantial improvement in human rights. Furthermore, we will examine US policy on human rights towards North Korea in order to shed light on the correlation between the North Korea’s denuclearization process and its consequences and the issue of improvements in North Korea’s human rights situation. Through this we will examine what needs to be considered when applying the Helsinki Process in resolving North Korea’s human rights issue.