Andrew Yeo, associate professor, politics, published a blog in The Washington Post’s Monkey Cage on North Korea and human rights.
President Trump in recent months talked about the “cruel dictatorship”of the North Korean regime, echoing other statements critical of North Korea’s record on human rights. That was at January’s State of the Union address.
But Trump gave the issue short shrift during his recent meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — and explained to reporters that he wanted to “have a good relationship with North Korea.” In other media interviews, Trump appeared to downplay the regime’s atrocities, and instead praised Kim as a leader with a “great personality,” loved by his people.
Why human rights are often ignored in nuclear talks
When it comes to nuclear security, leaders may put human rights as a lower priority, for pragmatic reasons. Raising concerns about human rights can complicate negotiations and jeopardize the prospects of a nuclear deal. This approach means leaders sideline human rights to be discussed at a later stage, or as a separate issue. ...
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