North Korea’s admission to the World Health Organization’s executive board was met with condemnation from a majority of Western observers, but former president Donald Trump is taking a different tack.
“Congratulations to Kim Jung Un!” wrote Trump in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.
The issue of countries that commit human rights abuses being given leadership roles in international organizations remains a live issue. Russia, which has committed war crimes in Ukraine, took charge of the U.N. Security Council in April. Earlier this month, it was announced Iran, which represses its citizens, will chair the U.N. Human Rights Council 2023 Social Forum. And now Dr. Jong Min Pak of the North Korean Ministry of Public Health will sit on the WHO’s executive board until 2026.
Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, a Geneva-based human rights group, condemned the move in a statement.
“What this means is that one of the world’s most horrific regimes is now a part of a group that sets and enforces the standards and norms for the global governance of health care. It is an absurd episode for a key U.N. agency that is in much need of self-reflection and reform,” Neuer explained.
Presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who was Trump’s U.N. ambassador, also derided the move.
During his presidency, Trump met with the North Korean leader three times in an attempt to improve relations and denuclearize the belligerent country that frequently threatens South Korea and other U.S. allies. While there was a thaw that reduced tensions on either side of the demilitarized zone and saw the remains of U.S. soldiers who died during the Korean War returned, no significant progress was made toward denuclearization. Tensions have risen since.
On Tuesday of this week, the U.S. condemned North Korea for attempting to launch its first military spy satellite using ballistic missile technology.
In a CNN interview last month, Trump’s former national security advisor John Bolton shed light on Trump’s thinking.
“Trump has this impression that foreign leaders — especially adversaries — hold him in good regard, that he’s got a good relationship with Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un. In fact, the exact opposite is true. I have been in those rooms with him when he’s met with those leaders. I believe they think he’s a laughing fool,” Bolton said.
As president, Trump froze funding to the WHO and announced his intention to withdraw from the international body. He accused the organization of not responding to Covid-19 fast enough and helping China cover up the threat it posed.
In one of his first acts in office, President Joe Biden recommitted to the WHO and lifted the funding freeze.