South Korean officials from across the government met Thursday to discuss human rights in North Korea for the first time in two years, a development that activists say signals the Yoon administration’s interest in elevating the issue within its inter-Korean policy priorities.

Vice minister of unification Kim Ki-woong led the meeting of the Council on North Korean Human Rights, along with other foreign and justice ministry officials and Seoul’s recently appointed ambassador for North Korean human rights Lee Shin-wha. 

The council’s main purpose is to bring together different government agencies to formulate policy recommendations for improving North Korean human rights,