ANNUAL REPORT 2015 To develop policies that can improve the North Korean human rights situation, the Commission continues to conduct surveys; issue recommendations; express opinions; announce Chairperson statements; operate the "Report Center for North Korean Defectors" and the "North Korean Human Rights Records Depository", the North Korean Human Rights Commission and North Korean Human Rights Forum; host discussion meetings, forums, and international symposiums to build an international network to promote North Korean human rights, and the Seoul Dialogue for Human Rights; have face-to-face meetings with major figures related to North Korean human rights; and conduct consultations with organizations related to the human rights and related investigations for overseas North Korean defectors. 1) Opinions Expressed and Chairperson’s Statements ■ ‌The Commission’s opinion on the government’s actions to stop citizens flying anti-DPRK leaflets into North Korean territory Whether it is by activist groups or an individual, flying anti-DPRK leaflets into North Korean territory falls into the category of the constitutional freedom of expression. The threats from the DPRK or the bilateral agreement to prohibit aspersions and slanders against each other cannot serve as excuses to compromise the fundamental rights of people. Therefore, the Commission expressed its opinion on January 26th that the government must not take measures to stop or regulate these legitimate leaflet-flying activities. ■Chairperson’s statement regarding South Koreans detained in the North There are still four South Koreans detained in the North: missionaries Kim Jung-Wook, Kim Kuk-Gi and Choe Chun-Gil, and New York University student Joo Won-Moon. And they are strictly shut off from all outside contact, including government officials and their family members. Therefore, the Chairperson announced a statement on May 12th to urge the North to take due measures pursuant to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right, expressing strong concern over the North’s behavior on this matter. ■‌C  hairperson’s statement to welcome the opening of a UN OHCHR in Seoul On the opening of the UN OHCHR in Seoul, a UN field-based structure to regularize and support its activities related to North Korean human rights, including monitoring on human rights abuse in NK, the Chairperson announced a statement to welcome the event, expressing 70 | National Human Rights Commission of Korea