Why Washington cannot abandon the North Korean human rights issue

Opinion

Why Washington cannot abandon the North Korean human rights issue

In softening its stance, the U.S. has given up a useful pressure point

Robert E. McCoy December 30, 2018

Why Washington cannot abandon the North Korean human rights issue

White House

A recent report claims that the United States is taking a softer position regarding North Korea. The claim is based on the fact that the United States scrubbed a chance to bring United Nation Commission of Inquiry Report on Human Rights in North Korea once again into public scrutiny when it cancelled a speech scheduled in December on that topic by American Vice President Mike Pence.

The rationale behind the decision was apparently based upon a desire in Washington to not do anything that could possibly derail any second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un.

About the Author

Robert E. McCoy

Robert E. McCoy is a retired U.S. Air Force Korean linguist and analyst/reporter who was stationed in Asia for more than fourteen years. He continues to follow developments in East Asia closely. Mr. McCoy’s book Tales You Wouldn’t Tell Your Mother is now out. He can be contacted via his website http://musingsbymccoy.com/ which also lists his previous essays and has personal vignettes on Asia (Tidbits) not published elsewhere.

View more articles by Robert E. McCoy Got a news tip?Let us know!