Ruling party pushes to pass bill on N. Korean rights

The ruling party will again push to pass a bill on North Korea’s human rights during the current National Assembly session, the party's chairman said Sunday.

The move comes after nine North Korean defectors were repatriated from China on May 28,

According to Yonhap news agency, Hwang Woo-yea, leader of the Saenuri Party, said, "The United States and Japan already introduced legislation that calls for the improvement of human rights in North Korea and aims to help North Koreans who flee their impoverished homeland. The Republic of Korea should enact a law to prevent North Korean defectors from being put in a dangerous situation again as seen in the latest incident." The Republic of Korea is the official name of South Korea.

The nine North Koreans, aged between 15 and 23, were sent back to North Korea from China after being caught in Laos on May 10.

The Grand National Party, predecessor of the Saenuri Party, submitted a bill on North Korean human rights in 2005, but the bill failed to pass the legislature as opponents said that if such a bill was approved, it will further deteriorate inter-Korean relations.

By Keat Min Woo

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com