Unification minister says joining UN resolution on NK human rights made through interagency coordination

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Monday that South Korea's decision to co-sponsor this year's U.N. resolution on North Korean human rights was reached through interagency coordination, signaling a measured shift from earlier expectations. Chung, who had previously voiced opposition to the co-sponsorship, citing Pyongyang's objections, made the remarks after the foreign ministry announced Saturday that Seoul would join other nations in co-sponsoring the resolution. "The decision can be seen as a compromise between respecting the U.N.'s role in representing universal values and taking into account the other party's position on matters it views as related to its sovereignty," Chung told reporters, apparently referring to North Korea. There had been speculation that South Korea might refrain from joining the resolution in line with President Lee Jae Myung's conciliatory approach toward Pyongyang, which has consistently condemned such moves as politically motivated and interference in its internal affairs. However, Pyongyang's continued hard-line stance toward Seoul is also believe

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