A variety of discussions on the measures to improve human rights situations in North Korea are now underway at home and abroad. One of the leading discussions to improve human rights situations in North Korea is to invoke the Helsinki Accords.
The purpose of this study is to draw implications from the process of implementing the Helsinki Final Act for the improvement of human rights situations in North Korea and to review how the Accords has exerted an influence on opening and democratization of civil society.
First, dissidents in East European Socialist countries vehemently criticized human rights violation in their countries and demanded the improvement of the situation through establishing an international network. They extensively utilized the 7th Point(VII. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief) among the 10 Points of the Accords as a sound basis.
Second, the Helsinki Accords played an important role in justifying an independent opposition activity against a leading role carried out by the Communists at that time, which couldn't be compatible with each other.
Third, as seen from the process of implementing the Accords, strengthening a capacity to form 'an organized opposition' at the level of domestic civil society as a key factor, and building a transnational network with the international community together will bring substantial results toward the improvement of human rights situation in North Korea.
Finally, changing recognitions of governing leaders toward the issue as in the case of Gorbachov in the process of the Helsinki Accords will also be necessary to improve human rights situation in North Korea by connecting the aforementioned domestically 'organized opposition' and the transnational networking.