Making North Korea Human Rights Compliant with a Pluralist Approach: Beyond the Commission of Inquiry Processes

This article proposes a pluralist approach of mixing various methods and soliciting various actors in solving rampant human rights problems in North Korea. Human rights issues in Pyongyang need to be tackled simultaneously with other concerns of the Korean peninsula such as peace building and economic growth without prioritizing one norm or task over others. Realism, liberalism, and constructivism all help us understand and improve North Korea s human rights problems. We should continue our efforts to increase the sensitivity of North Korea to human rights issues with sticks and carrots. International organizations, non-governmental organizations, and states should make concerted efforts to compel North Korea to observe human rights norms. While North Korea s human rights issues should be approached resolutely by holding the perpetrators accountable for their crimes, the complicated dynamic also requires dialogue and communication, humanitarian aid, investment, mutual education, and cultural exchanges by multiple actors.