Vice Unification Minister Shin Un-sang says political reform and economic progress, not external pressure, will improve the human rights situation in North Korea.

In an international forum in Seoul Thursday, Shin said pressing the North over its human rights and suspending exchanges or food aid would only hurt the North Korean people.

He also said Seoul has told Pyongyang of its stance on the North's human rights through inter-Korean dialogue, including the recent ministerial talks, but that now is not the time to make a public issue out of the matter.