Greg Scarlatoiu, President and CEO of HRNK, Testifies at First-Ever UN General Assembly High-Level Plenary Meeting on North Korean Human Rights
Greg Scarlatoiu, President and CEO of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) delivered powerful testimony on May 20 at the first-ever High-Level Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly dedicated to the human rights situation in North Korea.
In his 15-minute address, Scarlatoiu emphasized that “North Korea’s egregious human rights violations are not merely a domestic issue, but a threat to international peace and security,” warning that “the North Korean regime exports violence and instability to countries such as China and those in Europe.” He specifically highlighted the clear connections between North Korea’s internal repression, nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development, and its support for armed conflicts abroad.
Scarlatoiu stated that the North Korean regime endangers global stability by providing weapons to terrorist organizations and authoritarian governments, thus contributing to international insecurity. He noted that this goes beyond mere military support—it is a systemic factor that undermines global peace. He also testified that North Korea exploits its citizens through forced labor in harsh environments overseas, with the earnings funneled back to fund its nuclear and missile programs. He revealed the regime’s use of a rigid caste system (songbun) to classify and discriminate against its own people, and stressed that under this structure, all fundamental freedoms—freedom of speech, religion, and assembly—are severely suppressed.
He stressed the need to move beyond viewing North Korea solely through the lens of military threats and called for a “human rights-upfront approach” centered on fundamental freedoms, which he said is essential for a peaceful transition. For this to happen, he urged stronger international leadership. Referring to the 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report, Scarlatoiu pointed out that accountability for crimes against humanity committed by the North Korean regime remains unfulfilled. He called on the UN to pursue justice by utilizing existing international legal mechanisms to hold the regime accountable.
This marks the first time the UN General Assembly convened a High-Level Plenary Meeting with North Korean human rights as the sole agenda. The shift in tone—recognizing the need for coordinated international accountability—has been seen as a significant and long-overdue step forward.
Edited by Abby Park
Translated by Doohyun Kim
