Seoul: Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korean human rights, has pledged to continue supporting South Korea and the international community's initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue and engagement with North Korea, as confirmed by Seoul's foreign ministry. Salmon's commitment was expressed during her meeting with South Korea's Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina in Seoul. This visit marks her third official trip to Seoul since her appointment as the fourth special rapporteur in August 2022.

According to Yonhap News Agency, during the meeting, Salmon emphasized her role in contributing to international efforts to encourage North Korea's cooperation. She expressed her commitment to supporting initiatives necessary for dialogue and engagement with Pyongyang. Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina praised Salmon for her work in raising global awareness of human rights issues in North Korea and expressed hope for her continued active role in achieving improvements in the human rights situation for North Korean residents.

The U.N. special rapporteur's mandate involves investigating and researching the human rights situation in North Korea, with findings reported to the U.N. General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. Following her visit, Salmon plans to present her annual report to the Human Rights Council in March and to the General Assembly in September, as stated by the ministry.