Jay Lefkowitz, appointed by Congress in 2005 as special envoy for human rights in North Korea, testified yesterday before the House Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment. There was nothing diplomatic about what Lefkowitz had to say:
Lefkowitz goes on to say that although the Six Party Talks have set forth a working group for normalizing relations between North Korea and the United States, “We believe a discussion on human rights should take place prior to a full normalization of relations.” Lefkowitz also warned of “indications that the food shortage this spring in North Korea could be more acute than it has been since the famine years of the 1990s.” Senator McCain addressed “Pyongyang’s appalling human rights record” yesterday as well. McCain sent a letter to Secretary Rice calling attention to the trafficking of North Korean women who are “sold” as brides to Chinese men. McCain urged Rice “to ensure that trafficking of North Korean women is a key element of any discussion with Chinese officials that bears on these issues.” McCain was more forceful on the subject of North Korea though, demanding that the North’s human rights record “must be on the table in talks conducted pursuant to the new agreement with North Korea.” You can read McCain’s letter here.
